New Delhi, May 10 (KNN) The government has given its nod to set up an autonomous National Skill Development Agency (NSDA) to synchronise the skill development efforts of the government and the private sector for producing sector specific skilled professionals.

“The NSDA will coordinate and harmonise the skill development efforts of the government and the private sector to achieve the skilling targets of the 12th Plan and beyond; anchor and operationalise the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) and be the nodal agency for sector skills councils and endeavour to bridge the social, regional, gender and economic divides in skilling,” said an official statement.

The NSDA which will work from the Ministry of Finance office can also raise extra budgetary resources.

“The NSDA is expected to provide the much needed single point focus to ensure that skilling quality and standards meet sector specific requirements benchmarked to international standards. Such an initiative will boost employability of youth in India,” it said.

The proposal to set up the National Skill Development Agency (NSDA) was first considered by the cabinet in its meeting on January 31, 2013 and it was referred to a group of ministers (GoM) to review all aspects.

Despite hosting the world’s largest working population and labour force India is experiencing the paradox of a massive and growing shortage of skilled manpower.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has set target of creating a 500 million globally employable workforce by 2022 as envisioned in the vision document of India@75 - The People’s Agenda. (KNN)