Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers signs 3 MoUs with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship

New Delhi, July 10, 2015: The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers signed three Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to address the industrys’ need of skilled manpower. Shri Sunil Arora, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship signed these MoUs with Shri S.K. Chaudhary, Secretary, Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Shri Anuj Kumar Bishnoi, Secretary, Department of Fertilizers and Dr. V.K. Subburaj, Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals. These MoUs were signed in the presence of Union Minister of Chemicals & Fertilizers Shri Ananth Kumar and the Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (Independent Charge) Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy.

The MoUs were signed with the understanding to collectively address the incremental human requirement in the fertilizer, pharmaceutical and chemicals & petrochemical industry. As part of the agreement, the standards and quality assurance processes will be set to facilitate implementation of various projects. All the three Departments under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers will dovetail their budget under the existing or new schemes for implementation of all the initiatives agreed under the MoUs. This would also include advocacy and marketing, training, certification and setting up of project management unit, if required.

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister of Chemicals & Fertilizers Shri Ananth Kumar said that about 1.10 crore people are employed in industries belonging to Fertilizers, Pharmaceuticals and Chemicals & Petrochemicals sector out of which 80% are unskilled at the time of joining. He said that the skill up-gradation and capacity building will generate efficiency in the economy and improve the quality of life of people. Shri Ananth Kumar said that skilled manpower will provide India a greater edge, as it grows. He said that sharing of space, infrastructure, funds, technology, experience and expertise as envisaged under the MoUs will prove to be a boon to the country.

The Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (Independent Charge) Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy said that signing of MoUs was a small but significant step undertaken as part of skill development campaign in the country. He said that presently 24 Ministries have more than 70 Schemes for skill development and the States are also doing their bit but there is no uniformity in training. He said that by working together in the skill development space and after entering into the strategic partnership with different departments, the skill up-gradation will be done as per industry’s requirements.