- The DigiSaksham initiative will equip more than 300,000 youth in technical skills in the first year
- Jobseekers can access Microsoft learning resources on the National Career Service (NCS) Portal
New Delhi, September 30, 2021: Microsoft India today announced a partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE) to launch DigiSaksham – a collaborative digital skills training initiative to empower jobseekers in an increasingly tech driven economy. This joint initiative is an extension of the government’s ongoing engagement to upskill youth from rural and semi-urban areas.
Through this initiative, Microsoft, and the Ministry of Labour and Employment will provide 10 million active registered jobseekers on the National Career Service (NCS) platform, access to inclusive computing and computer science training, equipping them with the skills required to thrive in a digital economy. Conceptualized and designed by Microsoft India, DigiSaksham will be implemented in the field by Aga Khan Rural Support Programme India (AKRSP-I). The program will impact more than 300,000 job seekers in the first year, training them in subjects like programming languages, data analytics, software development fundamentals and advanced digital productivity.
The initiative was launched in New Delhi today in the presence of Bhupender Yadav, Union Cabinet Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change and Labour & Employment, Government of India, Rameshwar Teli, Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Labour and Employment, Government of India, Anant Maheshwari, President, Microsoft India, and Apoorva Oza, Chief Executive Officer, Aga Khan Rural Support Programme-India.
The forum highlighted the importance of skilling in bridging India’s digital divide, placing the country on the path to inclusive economic recovery and preparing India’s talent to thrive in a digital future.
Inaugurating the initiative, Shri Bhupender Yadav, Union Cabinet Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change; and Labour & Employment, Government of India, said, “Under the august leadership of honorable PM Modi, India is accelerating its digital revolution. Today, whether it is the expansion of digital services or digital enablement for opportunities for skilling in different trades, Government of India has led and developed many pathbreaking initiatives. However, if India has to realize all its ambitions, it is important that our youth are proficient on computer and digital skills. To build their competencies and abilities, Government of India’s Ministry of Labour & Employment in partnership with Microsoft India has launched a new program which we have named DigiSaksham. This program is being offered free of cost on Ministry’s National Career Services portal. You can enroll and join the program to enhance your digital skills and through DigiSaksham enhance your opportunity for jobs and employment in the digital world. I want to see our youth grow and get better opportunities for employment, and for that I encourage everyone to join this program in large numbers.”
Speaking about the partnership, Anant Maheshwari, President, Microsoft India, said, “Ensuring equitable access and opportunity to digital technology and skills will be vital for realizing the Digital India vision. Our collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Employment reflects our commitment to bridge the digital equity gap and empower the youth of India to succeed in a digital economy. We have a unique opportunity to become an increasingly important tech engine of the world. Providing equal opportunity and access to digital skills for all will be the key to long-term economic and social value creation for India.”
Shri Rameshwar Teli, Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Labour and Employment, Government of India, said, “Ministry of Labour & Employment understands the critical need for training in this digital era. Understanding this, our Ministry provides trade and career guidance to socially underprivileged groups who are keen to get employed, through our network of 25 National Career Service Centres across India. In addition, the Ministry also facilitates diverse education and employability initiatives for these youth. DigiSaksham program is specially focused to provide digital productivity skills to socially and economically backward groups. I believe that trainees from SC/ST groups and Persons with Disabilities will definitely benefit from this program. I hope that all aspirants for employment registered on the National Career Services portal will use DigiSaksham to enhance their skills. I also appreciate the partnership with Microsoft India and our Ministry. I wish success to all the departments and organizations involved in the implementation of DigiSaksham. “
DigiSaksham will leverage the strengths of MoLE’s platform, National Career Service (NCS) to equip youth with skills and industry-recognized credentials that increase access to employment opportunities and promote skills-based hiring. Jobseekers registered on the NCS portal will be trained in specialized technology modules aligned with their existing educational qualifications. The technology modules will be taught at intermediate and advanced levels, equipping participants with digital skills.
Speaking of the association, Apoorva Oza, CEO AKRSP(I), said, “The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the transition of India to a digital economy and digital society. Unfortunately, rapid transitions tend to leave out the disadvantaged and the poor. In this context, AKRSP(I) is partnering with Microsoft India and MoLE to reach out to the millions of youths – to ensure their poverty and geographical remoteness do not prevent them from being part of a steadfastly digital economy. AKRSP(I) commends MoLE for this pro-active initiative to create a society which leaves no one behind.”
DigiSaksham is an extension of Microsoft’s global commitment to help 25 million people acquire digital skills in a COVID-19 economy. This project aims to support the existing government ecosystem by upskilling job seekers through a four-step approach:
- Facilitation: AKRSP(I) will curate sector skills requirements and develop customized learning paths to improve the employability of jobseekers.
- Content Integration: Microsoft’s technical course curriculum will be integrated on the NCS portal via the Global Skills Initiative to enable access for 10M active registered jobseekers.
- Jobseeker Training: The program will directly train 300K+ beneficiaries across India through a two-pronged approach, a blended model with online training on the Microsoft Community Training (MCT) platform, and in-person workshops at select Model Career Centers.
- MCT is an Azure-based platform that supports personalized learning for a large-scale mobile-based community. MCT will be integrated on ncs.gov.in, where registered jobseekers will enroll in virtual instructor-led training on technical skills like Programming Languages, Data Analytics, Software Development Fundamentals, and Advance Digital Productivity, etc.
- Pursuant to Government educational institute reopening guidelines, AKRSP-I, in consultation with NICS will identify Model Career Centre’s (MCC) to organize instructor-led boot camps on emerging technologies like Cloud, AI, and Data Analytics to reach 2400 beneficiaries across four MCC’s.
- Employment Assistance:The program will support youth trained and certified under DigiSaksham with placements at four select Model Career Centers. A placement officer will be deputed to facilitate industry-specific placements and explore hyperlocal employment opportunities.
About Microsoft
Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Microsoft set up its India operations in 1990. Today, Microsoft entities in India have over 16,000 employees, engaged in sales and marketing, research, development and customer services and support, across 11 Indian cities – Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, New Delhi, Gurugram, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Noida and Pune. Microsoft offers its global cloud services from local data centers to accelerate digital transformation across Indian startups, businesses, and government organizations.
About the Ministry of Labour and Employment
The Ministry of Labour & Employment is one of the oldest and important Ministries of the Government of India. The main responsibility of the Ministry is to protect and safeguard the interests of workers in general and those who constitute the poor, deprived and disadvantage sections of the society with due regard to creating a healthy work environment for higher production and productivity and to develop and coordinate vocational skill training and employment services. Government’s attention is also focused on promotion of welfare and providing social security to the labour force both in organized and unorganized sectors, in tandem with the process of liberalization. These objectives are sought to be achieved through enactment and implementation of various labour laws, which regulate the terms and conditions of service and employment of workers. The State Governments are also competent to enact legislations, as labour is a subject in the concurrent list under the Constitution of India.
About National Institute for Career Service
The National Institute for Career Service (erstwhile Central Institute for Research and Training in Employment Service) was set up in October 1964 under Directorate General of Employment (DGE), M/o Labour & Employment. It was emanated out of the realization that the efficiency of the Employment Service depended on well trained officers as well as constant research into the Labour and Employment Market. The Institute was later expanded in 1970 with additional function of publishing career literature and again in 1987 with added responsibility of dealing with the matters for promotion of self-employment.
The Ministry is implementing the Employment Exchange Mission Mode Project which is one of the 31 Mission Projects under National e-Government plans (Ne-GP). One of the objectives of EE-MMP has been to revamp and re-engineer NES into National Career Service (NCS). NCS has been conceptualized as a comprehensive, multi-pronged, transformational project, which aims to provide a variety of employment-related service. The key success factors of NCS initiative revolve around strengthening the existing employment exchange ecosystem with an ICT enabled platform (www.ncs.gov.in).
About Aga Khan Rural Support Programme India
Aga Khan Rural Support Programme India (AKRSPI) is a non-denominational, non-governmental development organization. AKRSPI works as catalyst for the betterment of rural communities by providing direct support to local communities. AKRSPI is active in over 2400 villages of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar. It has impacted lives of over 1.5 million people from marginalized sections of society. Over 80% of beneficiary belong to marginalized communities like tribal, Dalit and minorities and 60% are women. Youth skills and entrepreneurship development is one of the core programs of AKRSPI’s. It runs dedicated skills centers in rural areas to train youths on emerging sectors and digital skills and to provide them dignified employment opportunity. AKRSPI is a partner of NSDC and for its on-entrepreneurship development with rural youth it received the prestigious National Entrepreneurship Award-2019 from the Government of India.
