The National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) and a subsidiary of the Common Service Centre e-Governance Services India Limited have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance digital literacy and skill development in India.
The MoU aims to establish a long-term partnership between the two organisations to jointly develop and implement initiatives that promote digital literacy and create employment opportunities for the youth of India. Under the MoU, the two sides will work together to develop and implement training programmes for technology skill development. They will establish a virtual academy and an accreditation and facilitation centre. Additionally, they will create faculty development programmes, develop content and certifications, support mutual partners and NGOs, and promote digital and financial inclusion, and entrepreneurship development.
Speaking about the collaboration, an official stated that the MoU is a significant step towards achieving the mission of creating a digitally literate society in India. This partnership will provide an opportunity for the government to reach out to a wider audience and help them acquire new skills that are essential for the 21st century. Through this partnership, the two sides aim to create a skilled workforce that can contribute to the growth of the digital economy in the country.
The subsidiary of the Common Service Centre (CSC SPV) provides digital literacy and skill development training to the rural youth of India. The organisation aims to bridge the digital divide in the country and create employment opportunities for the rural population.
NIELIT is a premier institute in the field of information technology and is affiliated with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). The organisation provides training and certification programs in various fields of technology and aims to create a digitally literate society in India.
The MoU is part of the government’s strategy to upskill the youth. Last month, MeitY announced it would set up a state-of-the-art facility through NIELIT, which would provide training in cutting-edge digital skills in Shillong. A 10-acre campus for the facility will soon be ready, which will cater to the skilling requirement of youth in the region.
Furthermore, the Digital India Startup Hub announced India’s first Centre of Excellence in Online Gaming. It will be established in Shillong in March. As OpenGov Asia reported, the centre will catalyse start-ups and entrepreneurs from the entire northeast region to build the next-gen online gaming ecosystem.
According to the Prime Minister, the next wave of start-ups and entrepreneurs will come from Shillong, Kohima, and other parts of the northeast. MeitY recently circulated Draft amendments to the IT Rules 2021 in relation to online gaming for public consultation.
The government highlighted the importance of digital skills in the post-pandemic scenario, as the rate of the digitalisation of products, services, and devices is rapidly increasing across the globe. It is keen on imparting digital skills to the youth in the northeast region to enable them to have opportunities for jobs and entrepreneurship in the quickly-expanding digital economy.
In line with this, the government is re-launching the Skill India through Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 4.0 (PMKVY 4.0). It will train around 50,000 youth in Meghalaya in future-ready skills with industry-backed job opportunities. The government claimed it is building a “New India with re-imagined ambitions and aspirations for the young Indians”.
As far as other states in the northeast region are concerned, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship under PMKVY4.0 aims to upskill around 60,000 youth in Tripura and 35,000 in Nagaland across a spectrum of approved courses.
