In news
Skill India undertakes Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for workers under Department of Panchayati Raj in Chandauli and Varanasi
Key highlights of the programme
- In line with its vision to promote decentralization and local governance for better planning and implementation of skill development programmes, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) is conducting a Special Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) program for workers, with Department of Panchayati Raj (DoPR) in Chandauli and Varanasi.
- The programme, implemented under SANKALP Programme of MSDE
- The implementing agency for the programme is National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC)
- The learnings from the RPL programme in Chandauli and Varanasi will be incorporated in the national launch of the proposed scheme aiming at getting gram panchayats skill ready for jobs of the future.
- This initiative is part of a larger programme on ‘Skill Development Planning at the level of ‘Gram Panchayat’ that focuses on introducing Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) in a structured manner in GPs of various districts across the country.
What is Recognition of Prior Learning?
Recognition of Prior Learning commonly known as RPL largely refers to an assessment process used to evaluate a person’s existing skill sets, knowledge and experience gained either by formal, non-formal or informal learning.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programme recognizes the value of learning acquired outside a formal setting and provides a government certificate for an individual’s skills. Candidates receive exposure to concepts of digital and financial literacy and an accidental insurance coverage for three years at free of cost.
Objectives
RPL under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 2016-20 primarily has threefold objectives:
- It aims to align the competencies of the un-regulated workforce of the country to the standardized National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF),
- To enhance the employability opportunities of an individual as well as provide alternative routes to higher education and
- To provide opportunities for reducing inequalities based on privileging certain forms of knowledge over others.
Other features of RPL
- No fee is charged from a candidate for participating in the RPL program
- RPL recognizes the value of learning acquired outside a formal setting and provides a government certificate for an individual’s skills
- Every successfully certified candidate receives INR 500
- Candidate receive exposure to concepts of digital and financial literacy
- Candidate receive an accidental insurance coverage for three years at free of cost
SANKALP Programme
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Significance of the move
The initiative will contribute to the development of rational and realistic state skill development plans, finally leading to a well-grounded national plan for skill development. Down-streaming the skill development planning to the gram panchayat (GP) level would contribute to decentralization in the true sense. Thus, creating sustainable employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for workers and drive socio-economic development of the local economies. This will further enhance the scope of replicability and scalability of the RPL programme to other GPs across the country.
