By PTI

New Delhi: Industry association Ficci has asked the government to give fiscal support in the form of a 10-year tax holiday and excise waiver for purchase of training equipment to scale up and modernize Industrial Training Centres.

“The government should offer fiscal support in the form of a 10-year tax holiday, excise waiver for purchase of training equipment and machinery, funding for training for Industrial Training Centres (ITCs),” the chamber said.

ITCs in the private sector can prove to be a strong catalyst for skill formation and an important conduit to attain the national goal of developing an adequately skilled manpower, it said.

Government should also address the critical issue of lack of opportunities for upward mobility in the education ladder for Industrial Training Institute (ITI) passouts. At present, ITI passouts find it difficult to upgrade their qualification to the diploma and degree level.

Employment exchanges in the country should be remodeled on the pattern seen in Taiwan, which effectively under one roof offer training services, counseling services, employment testing services and employee referral services, Ficci said.

In India, Apprenticeship Act does not allow the companies to treat apprentices at par with workers. Suitable amendments should be made to remove such bottlenecks.

To give an impetus to the skill-training programme in the country government should take measures to empower the private sector managed ITCs through the proposed National Skill Development Corporation.

The chamber has also called for fresh thinking on improving the quality and capacity of vocational education and training like strengthening private sector participation (PPP) in management of institutions and in course design.