The Central Government has urged the corporate sector to set up in-house cells which would help respective companies drive skilling initiatives under the PM Internship Scheme and also sort out issues which they would face while implementing the scheme to provide internship opportunities to young individuals.
“If you could put in a team at the PMIS level, which can drive this initiative in your company, please put that team together. Put up a PMIS cell which can take this forward, which can take decisions from you, which can look up to you for guidance,” said Deepti Gaur Mukerjee, Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, at the first PMIS Mela hosted by industry body CII in Kolkata.
Mukerjee said that in-house centres at the companies would help the managements sort out small issues which they would face while implementing the PM Internship Scheme. “There are small issues which need to be sorted out when you are implementing the scheme, and you can give them the go ahead so that you are nimble and agile,” she emphasised.
“Skilling is totally your child. Please bring it the way you want to. So do put up the cell in place that you can really move up,” she said.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in the Union Budget for 2024-25, had announced the launch of Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) schemes, aimed at boosting hiring in the corporate sector. In support of this initiative, the Government of India has introduced the Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme (PMIS), designed to empower youth by providing quality internship opportunities.
Companies across sectors participated in the PMIS Mela on Tuesday in Kolkata. The Mela has been organised to expand outreach, and encourage participation of young individuals and companies to support the PMIS scheme.
Mukerjee said that around 50 per cent of the population in India is currently below the age of 25 years, and it is a huge demographic dividend.
“But this demographic dividend will turn into a demographic nightmare if you are not able to fulfil the aspirations of our youth, if you are not able to partner with them, mentor them, teach them, learn from them and grow along with them. So this is why the industry has been invited. It is a voluntary scheme. That is why we are inviting you to partner with us, to skill our youth, to train them, to mentor them, to give them guidance,” she added.