Skill Council for Green Jobs (SCGJ) is one of the recent initiatives launched by the Government of India, aligned with the National Skill Development Mission. It is promoted by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The establishment of the SCGJ was approved in the 10th meeting of the National Skill Qualifications Committee held on September 28, 2015. It was established as a not-for-profit, autonomous, industry-led society and was registered under the Societies Registration Act XXI, 1860 on October 1, 2015.
The mission of the Skill Council for Green Jobs is to identify the skill needs of service users as well as manufacturers/service providers within the green business sector and to implement nationwide, industry-led, collaborative skill development and entrepreneurship initiatives that will enable India to realize its potential for "green businesses."
The CEO of the Skill Council for Green Jobs, Arpit Sharma, stated that so far, they have built a substantial workforce by training approximately 450,000 sanitation workers, de-sludging operators, and waste pickers in the waste management sector. They have also trained more than 150,000 solar technicians and helpers across the country, along with other job roles in the solar energy sector. Training programs have also been conducted for wind technicians and small hydro technicians through their training partners.
Currently, they are focusing on green hydrogen, which is emerging as one of the largest sectors in India. In fact, they refer to it not just as a sector but as an economy. Capacity building initiatives have already begun in the green hydrogen economy. All these training programs are approved by NCVET (National Council for Vocational Education and Training). All qualifications, course content, and standards have been approved by the regulator, NCVET, under the Government of India. So far, they have received approval for approximately 77 qualifications.
New Opportunities in Green Hydrogen
They are providing training in over 20 qualifications in the solar sector, such as solar PV installer, helper, solar designer, solar proposal evaluation specialist, and solar entrepreneur. Similarly, in waste management, they have de-sludging operators, waste pickers, and civil entry professionals. They are also working in the biofuels and biomass sector.
They have agricultural residue collectors and aggregators. In the green hydrogen sector, 10 important job roles have been created, such as junior plant technicians, electrolyzer manufacturing, green hydrogen entrepreneurs, and de-sludging. In fact, they have a very unique structure.
A Strong Network of Partnerships
They work collaboratively with industry, academia, and government. Their governing council includes various industries representing their respective sectors. The other governing council comprises ministries, such as the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and the Ministry of Power.
They also work with the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, and the Ministry of Social Justice. Through their governing councils and members, they have a strong connection. Additionally, they have industry memberships, with more than 200 industries already on board. In this way, they collaboratively design the curriculum and complete all tasks.
Conclusion
The Skill Council for Green Jobs (SCGJ) has taken significant steps towards building a skilled workforce in the green business sector. With the collaboration of industry, education, and government, SCGJ has not only provided training in various qualifications but has also promoted capacity building in emerging areas like green hydrogen. Through these efforts, a strong foundation is being laid to realize India’s potential in "green businesses."
