KATHUA, SEPTEMBER 22: An Apprenticeship Mela under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) was organized today at Government Degree College (Boys), Kathua, providing aspiring youth a platform to connect with local industries and explore apprenticeship and skill development opportunities.
The day-long Mela was held under the guidance of Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Sharma. The proceedings of the event were supervised by General Manager, DIC Mushtaq Chowdhary, who is also the District Nodal Officer for implementation of NAPS in the District.
The Mela witnessed participation of around 350 passed-out students and job seekers from Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), Polytechnic Institutions, Degree Colleges and Schools across the district.
Dedicated registration and facilitation counters set up by the Skill Development Department, Employment Department and District Industries Centre, Kathua, assisted the participating candidates with registration, counselling and onboarding under the NAPS framework.
Around 30 industrial units from different industrial estates and areas of Kathua participated in the Mela. These units had collectively generated around 1,700 apprenticeship opportunities on the NAPS Portal, offering candidates a range of opportunities for acquiring industry-relevant skills and practical work experience.
During the event, the profiles of registered candidates were scrutinized and matched with the apprenticeship opportunities offered by participating industries. Suitable candidates were shortlisted and apprenticeship contracts were generated as per the provisions of NAPS, facilitating direct linkage between youth and industry.
Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Sharma highlighted the importance of apprenticeship training in bridging the gap between formal education and industry requirements.
The DC further said apprenticeship provides youth with valuable hands-on experience, enhances their employability and helps them acquire skills aligned with the actual requirements of the industry. “It enables industrial establishments to develop a skilled and productive workforce suited to their operational needs”, he added.
The Deputy Commissioner appreciated the coordinated efforts of the Industries Department, Skill Development Department, Employment Department and participating industrial units in organizing the Mela. He encouraged industrial establishments to actively engage apprentices and urged youth to make the most of the opportunities available under NAPS for building sustainable career pathways.
Pertinently, NAPS is a flagship initiative of the Government of India aimed at promoting apprenticeship training by combining classroom-based learning with practical workplace experience. The scheme provides youth with opportunities to acquire industry-relevant skills and exposure to workplace practices while helping industries meet their skilled manpower requirements.
