Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) unveiled a new tech initiative —SAKSHAM (Shramik Shakti Manch) on the occasion of its 34th Foundation Day celebrations. The platform is a dynamic job portal for mapping the skills of Shramiks (labour) with requirements of MSMEs. The target is to facilitate the creation of one million blue-collar jobs and also drive the upskilling of employees.
As a unique knowledge network institution in India, TIFAC activities encompass a wide array of technology areas and fill a critical gap in the overall S&T system of India. The organisation has carried out technology foresight exercise, facilitated and supported technology development; prepared technology linked business opportunity reports and implemented mission-mode programmes.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr V.K. Saraswat, Member Science, Niti Ayog and Chairman-TIFAC said it is important to make sure India has an eye on the future as well as on the present, and that is where TIFAC’s role comes in a big way.
While underscoring the increasing nonlinearity of science in the new era, he identified technological priorities of the future like cyber-physical systems, quantum computing, green chemistry and water. He stressed that it is imperative to focus on technologies that can make India self-reliant (Atmanirbhar) and that are futuristic as well. He was keen that the nation should identify areas where technologies have made breakthroughs as well as encourage indigenous technologies to be independent and globally competent.
The dynamic portal maps jobs/ skills of a skilled base with requirements of MSMEs and other industries all across the country. The portal has demand and supply data and uses algorithms and Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools for geospatial information on demand and availability and also provide analysis of skill training programmes for people. The pilot portal originally initiated with two districts is now being launched as an all India portal.
The SAKSHAM job portal will help eliminate middlemen/ labour contractor as well as help identification of skill proficiency level and development of Skill Cards for Shramiks (labour).
The portal is live and can be accessed at www.sakshamtifac.org. The data/information pertaining to the Shramiks (labour) and the industries (primarily MSME) are being updated automatically through WhatsApp and various other links. Efforts are on to popularise these links among potential employees and MSMEs all across the country through various channels including social media.
As industry contribution, an analytics company has agreed to give complimentary license of its business automation and accounting software to the MSMEs to encourage them to fill up their data and requirements on the portal on a first come first basis.
The portal is expected to help both potential employees and MSMEs to take advantage of technology in this era of economic revival. This would empower candidates by projecting their candidature directly to the MSMEs and other employers and would also address aspects related to their skill proficiency levels.
Image credits: https://www.tifac.org.in/
