National Initiative for Promotion of Upskilling of Nirman workers (NIPUN)

• 22 Jun 2022

For Prelims: NIPUN, DAY-NRLM

For Mains: NIPUN initiative and its importance, Government Policies & Interventions 

Why in News?

Recently, an innovative project for skill training of construction workers called ‘NIPUN’ i.e. National Initiative for Promoting Upskilling of Nirman Workers was launched.

• NIPUN is creating a future labour force for the construction industry which will propel innovation and large-scale development in the country.
• The construction sector is on track to become the largest employer by 2022, and it will require 45 million more qualified workers over the next ten years.

What is Project NIPUN?

• About:
  • The basic motive of the project is to train over 1 lakh construction workers, through fresh skilling and upskilling programmes.
  • The project NIPUN is an initiative of the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
  • This project is running under the flagship programme of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM)
    • The transformational impact of the National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) has reduced the vulnerability of urban poor households by providing upskilling and employment opportunities to urban dwellers, especially the youth.
• Implementing Agency:
  • National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).
    • NSDC is the nodal agency and workers under the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
    • NSDC will be responsible for the overall execution of training, monitoring and candidate tracking.

How will the NIPUN Project be Implemented?

• The project implementation is divided into three parts:
  • Training through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) at construction sites.
    • Onsite skill training will be provided to approximately 80,000 construction workers through industry associations under the RPL certification, co-branded with MoHUA.
  • Training through Fresh Skilling by Plumbing and Infrastructure Sector Skill Council (SSC).
    • About 14,000 candidates will receive fresh skilling through plumbing and infrastructure Sector Skill Council (SSC) in trades having promising placement potentials.
  • International Placement through industries/ builders/ contractors.
    • The courses are aligned with the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF).
    • It will be imparted at accredited and affiliated training centers only.
    • It is also envisaged that NSDC will place approximately 12,000 people in foreign countries such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, UAE and other GCC countries.

What are the Benefits associated with the Project NIPUN?

• Access to New Opportunity:
  • The NIPUN Project will enable the construction workers to seek better job opportunities, increase their wages and even pursue overseas placements.
• Spirit of Entrepreneurship:
  • It has been encouraged and supported by giving urban workers access to self- employment and skilled wage employment opportunities.
    • This initiative will enable Nirman workers to be more proficient and skilled.
• Skill Advancement:
  • Nirman workers can adopt advanced skills keeping in mind the future trends associated with the construction industry by upgrading their capabilities and diversifying their skill sets.
    • The Ministry also undertook technology challenges which led to implementation of six Light House Projects in a record time wherein technology and local material was used to construct sustainable green buildings.
• Growth of Economy:
  • Construction industry is a significant contributor to the nation’s GDP so this scheme will catalyse the GDP growth.
• Social Security:
  • It will provide trainees with ‘Kaushal Bima’, a three-year accidental insurance with coverage of INR 2 lakhs, digital skills such as cashless transactions and EPF and BOCW facilities.

Note

• NIPUN Bharat Mission
  • The Ministry of Education has launched a National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy (NIPUN Bharat), for ensuring that every child in the country necessarily attains foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) by the end of Grade 3, by 2026-27.
  • It was launched in 2021 as part of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

What do we Know about DAY-NRLM?

• About:
  • DAY-NULM is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, being implemented since 2014-15.
  • Its aim is to reduce poverty and vulnerability of urban poor households in the country by enabling them to access self-employment and skilled wage employment opportunities.
  • Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) was launched by the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Government of India in 2011.
• Aim:
  • The Mission aims at creating efficient and effective institutional platforms of the rural poor enabling them to increase household income through sustainable livelihood and improved access to financial services.
• Salient Features:
  • DAY-NRLM lays special emphasis on targeting the poorest of the poor and the most vulnerable communities and their financial inclusion.
  • Innovative projects are to be undertaken under NRETP to pilot alternate channels of financial inclusion, creating value chains around rural products, introduce innovative models in livelihoods promotion and access to finance and scale-up initiatives on digital finance and livelihoods interventions.
  • DAY-NRLM provides for mutually beneficial working relationship and formal platforms for consultations between Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Community Based Organizations (CBOs).
  • NRLM has also developed activity map to facilitate convergence in different areas of interventions where NRLM institutions and PRIs could work together which has been disseminated to all state Rural Livelihood Missions.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQ)

Q. How does the National Rural Livelihood Mission seek to improve livelihood options of rural poor? (2012)

1. By setting up a large number of new manufacturing industries and agribusiness centres in rural areas
2. By strengthening ‘self-help groups’ and providing skill development
3. By supplying seeds, fertilizers, diesel pump-sets and micro-irrigation equipment free of cost to farmers.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (b)

• The National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) is a poverty alleviation project implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development. This scheme is focused on promoting self-employment and organization of rural poor. The basic idea behind this programme is to organize the poors into SHGs (Self Help Groups) and make them capable for self employment.
• Pillars of NRLM:
  • Enhancing and expanding existing livelihood options of the poor.
  • Building skills for the job market outside.
  • Nurturing self-employed and entrepreneurs.
  • Hence, 2 is correct.
• The Mission neither focuses on setting up a large number of new manufacturing industries, nor agribusiness centres in rural areas. Its objective is not to supply seeds, fertilizers, diesel pump-sets and micro-irrigation equipment.
• Hence, 1 and 3 are not correct.
• Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

Source: PIB