New Delhi: The Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), in a convocation ceremony organized by Automotive Skills Development Council (ASDC) in Pune, presented certificates to the final 4 batches of 98 trainers under the Skill Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion (SANKALP) programme. MSDE offered the cluster-based Training of Trainers (ToT) in collaboration with ASDC, GIZ-IGVET and Maharashtra State Skill Development Mission (MSSDS).
Developed as part of the national component of SANKALP programme, the trainers received dual certification following assessments by ASDC and IGCC (German certification agency). The ToT programme covered trades such as Advanced Welding, CNC operations, Robotics, Quality Control, and Advanced Automotive Technology. Key stakeholders involved in the project included MSDE, (ASDC), GIZ-IGVET, and MSSDS.
The certification ceremony saw the presence of Nilambuj Sharan, Additional Secretary and Senior Economic Advisor, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, along with Arindam Lahiri, CEO, ASDC, Rodney Reviere, Project Head of IGVET, Meenu Sarawgi, EVP and Chief – Strategy and Operations ASDC, Rama Shankar Pandey, CEO, Tata Green Batteries, and ASDC GC member, Suresh Londhe, Joint Director of Industries, Department of Industries, Govt. of Maharashtra, Sachin Jadhav, Additional Commissioner, MSSDS, and Sagar D. Shinde, Director of Sukhakarta General Engineering Cluster Pvt. Ltd. (SGECPL).
Conducted in collaboration with SGECPL in Pune, the ToT program has trained 189 trainers across eight batches, which consisted of one-month classroom training followed by one-month on-the-job training. The initiative strengthened the public-private partnership in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) domain, upgrading the technical and pedagogical skills of trainers in line with industry 4.0 requirements. Moreover, it effectively bridged the skills gap by involving industry members in curriculum development.
Nilambuj Sharan, Additional Secretary and Senior Economic Advisor, MSDE, said, “The Cluster-based ToT in the automotive sector is a unique example of synergy between public and private sector as well as industry alignment. The Cluster-based TOT project has been instrumental in providing skill training and upskilling opportunities for trainers in the automotive sector. I would like to appreciate the active involvement of ASDC and the units in the Sukhakarta General Engineering Cluster Pvt. Ltd. for smooth and successful completion of the initiative undertaken through the World Bank aided scheme, namely, Skill Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion (SANKALP).”
“With rapid advancements and transformations within the industry, it is crucial to develop a highly competent set of trainers to prepare the workforce to meet the ever-evolving demands. He also congratulated the trainees who were awarded certificates on the occasion,” he added.
Arindam Lahiri, CEO, ASDC, said, ” It is worth highlighting that the project is strategically located within one of the largest automotive clusters, comprising over 3,000 industries supporting auto Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) across India and manufacturing auto components. This location offers a fertile ground for skills development and fostering industry growth. By continuously enhancing the skills of the workforce, we can drive innovation, efficiency, and excellence within the sector.”
The ToT model was initially piloted in Aurangabad, covering three job roles—Advanced Welding, CNC operations, and Robotics—with one batch each and a total of 75 trainers. Currently, the project is being implemented in Pune, an automotive cluster with over 3000+ industries supporting auto OEMs across India. ASDC remains committed to continuously developing and upgrading automotive skills to drive higher value additions and integrate skills with academic pathways, making them aspirational.
