AN OVERVIEW OF APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING SCHEME

 

    

BACKGROUND

 

·                     Development of human resource is crucial for the industrial development   of any nation.  Upgradation  of skills is an important component of Human Resource Development. Training imparted in Institutions alone is not sufficient for acquisition of skills and needs to be supplemented by training in the actual work place.

 

 

OBJECTIVES

    

Apprentices Act, 1961 was enacted with the following objectives :-

 

·                     To regulate the programme of training of apprentices in the industry so as  to conform to the syllabi, period of training etc. as laid  down by  the  Central   Apprenticeship Council; and

 

·                     To utilise fully  the  facilities available in industry for imparting practical training with a view to  meeting the  requirements  of skilled manpower    for industry.

   

 

EVOLUTION OF APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING SCHEME

 

·                     National Apprenticeship Scheme started in 1959 on  Voluntary Basis.

 

·                     Apprentices Act was enacted in 1961  and  implemented w.e.f.  1.3.1962.

 

·                     Initially  the  Act  envisaged  training of Trade Apprentices.

 

·                     The  Act  was amended in 1973 to include training of Graduate and Diploma Engineers as "Graduate" & "Technician" Apprentices.

 

·                     The Act was further amended  in  1986  to  bring  within  its purview  the  training  of   the 10+2 vocational stream  as  "Technician  (Vocational)" Apprentices.

 

·                It was further amended in 1997 to amend various sections of the Act as regards definition of   “establishment” and “worker”, termination of apprenticeship contract, number of apprentices for a designated trade,   practical and basic training of   apprentices,    obligation     of employers, penalty for contravening the provisions of the Act and cognizance of offences.

 

·                The Act was again amended in 2008 to amend various sections of the Act as regards reservation for candidates belonging to Other Backward Classes (OBCs), expenditure on related instruction shall be imparted at the cost of employer and the employer shall, when so required, afford all facilities for imparting such instructions and to provide flexibility in respect of ratios prescribed for apprenticeship seats.

 

MONITORING OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ACT

 

·                     DGE&T is also responsible for implementation of the Act in respect  of  Trade Apprentices in the Central Govt.  Undertakings & Departments.      This is done through  six  Regional  Directorates  of Apprenticeship  Training  located at  Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kanpur & Faridabad.

                 

·                     State Apprenticeship  Advisers are responsible  for implementation of       the Act  in  respect of  Trade Apprentices    in   State   Government   Undertakings/ Departments and Private Establishments.

 

·                     Department of Education in the  Ministry of  HRD is responsible for  implementation of  the  Act in respect  of  Graduate, Technician  &  Technician (Vocational) Apprentices.  This is done  through four  Boards     of Apprenticeship Training located at Kanpur, Kolkata , Mumbai & Chennai.

             

 

CENTRAL APPRENTICESHIP COUNCIL

 

·                     It is an apex statutory body. It advises the Government  on laying down policies and prescribing norms & standards in respect of Apprenticeship Training Scheme(ATS).

 

·                     It is tripartite  by constitution  with  members from Govt. both Central    and State/UTs, Employers & Trade Unions.

 

 

 

COVERAGE 

 

·                     It is obligatory  on the  part of  employers  both in Public and  Private  Sector establishments   having requisites training infrastructure as  laid down in the Act,  to engage apprentices.

 

·                     254 groups of industries covered under the Act.

 

·                     24815 establishments engage trade apprentices.

 

 

STIPEND

 

·                     Trade  apprentices  are  paid  stipend  at  following rates :  Rs.  1090 p.m for  1st year, Rs. 1240 p.m. for 2nd year,   Rs. 1440 p.m. for 3rd  year and   1620 p.m for 4th year.(with effect from 21st March 2007)

 

·                     The expenditure on stipend for trade apprentices is borne by the employers.

 

·                     The rates of  stipend  for  Graduate,  Technician  & Technician  (Vocational)  apprentices are Rs. 2600 p.m,  Rs. 1850 p.m. and  Rs. 1440 p.m.  respectively. (with effect from 8th January  2008)

 

·                     Expenditure on Stipend for the categories of Graduate, Technician & Technician   (Vocational) apprentices is shared equally between the employer and the Central Government.

 

·                     Rates of stipend are revised every two years based on Consumer Price Index.  

   

     

TRAINING OF TRADE APPRENTICES

 

·                     188 trades in 35 trade groups have been designated.

 

·                     Qualifications  vary  from  Class  VIII pass to XII class pass  (10+2) system.

 

·                     Minimum age is 14 years.

 

·                     Period of training varies from  6  months  to  4  years.

·                     Training comprises Basic Training, Practical  Training  and   Related   Instructions   as   per  prescribed syllabus for each trade.

 

·                     Basic  Training  & Related Instructions are conducted  in  Basic  Training  Centres  (BTCs)  or  Related  Instruction  Centres  (RICs)  set  up  within the  establishments or in a BTC or RIC set up  by  the  Government.

 

·                     Seats   for trade  apprentices  are located  by  the Apprenticeship Adviser on the basis of prescribed  ratio of Apprentices to Workers and availability of training facilities.

 

·                     Every apprentice and employer has to enter into a contract of apprenticeship training, which is registered by the Apprenticeship Advisers.

 

·                     Employers and apprentices have to fulfill their obligations under the Act.

 

 

TESTING AND CERTIFICATION OF TRADE APPRENTICES

 

·                     All  India  Trade  Tests  (AITT)  for  trade apprentices are conducted   by  National  Council  of  Vocational  Training (NCVT) twice a year (  October/ November  and April/May).

 

·                     National Apprenticeship Certificates (NAC) are awarded  to those who pass the AITT.

 

·                     NAC  is recognized  for  employment under Govt./Semi-Government  departments/ organizations.

 

 

SKILL COMPETITION OF TRADE APPRENTICES

 

·                     With  a  view  to  fostering  healthy competition among  apprentices  as  well  as  establishments, skill  competition is organized at local, regional & All India levels.

 

·                     Skill competition is held for 15 trades namely;  Fitter, Machinist,  Turner, Welder (Gas & Electric), Electrician, Mechanic (Motor Vehicle), Tool  &  Die  Maker (Die & Moulds), Tool and Die Maker(Press Tool, Jigs & Fixture),  Instrument Mechanic,  Draughtsman  (Mechanical),  Mechanic Machine Tool  Maintenance, Wireman, Mechanic(Diesel), Refrigeration & Air-Conditioning Mechanic  and Electronics Mechanic.

 

 

TRAINING OF GRADUATE, TECHNICIAN AND TECHNICIAN (VOCATIONAL APPRENTICES)

 

·                     114 subject fields have been designated for the category of Graduate & Technician apprentices.

 

·                     102 subjects fields have been designated for the category of Technician (Vocational) apprentices.

 

·                     Period of post qualification training for these categories is one year.

 

·                     Seats  are located based  on  managerial/supervisory posts and training facilities.

 

·                     Training programme is prepared in joint consultation between Apprenticeship Adviser Establishment concerned.

 

·                     Certificates are awarded on completion of training by the Deptt. of Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development.