Sibal sees role for PSUs in adult education programme

Kapil Sibal, the Union Human Resource Development Minister has asked the public sector undertakings and public sector banks to set out a road map for participation in the ambitious Adult Education Programme.”Saakshar Bharat”.

On Wednesday, Mr. Sibil asked them to present a white paper on the possible ways of collaboration, including vocational training and skill development, at an interactive meeting with heads/senior executives of public sector undertakings and banks. In regard to the financial contribution, the Minister said that the organizations could monetarily incentives well performing adult education workers who were otherwise doing voluntary work.

Kapil SibalMr. Sibal told the PSE representatives “Your retired staff can be volunteer teachers for Saakshar Bharat and you can build adult education centers in rural areas. There are 242 PSEs under (the) Central government and at least 16 lakh (1.6 million) employees are working in these institutions. Nearly 10% of them retire every year”. It may be noted that the program needs Rs 6,000 crore, however, the ministry officials said that it faces a crunch and the meeting with PSEs, school education secretary Anshu Vaish also asked them to consider “direct financial support” for Saakshar Bharat”.

U. D Choubey, Director General of the standing conference of public enterprises, the Apex body of PSEs said “There are 242 PSEs under (the) Central government and at least 16 lakh (1.6 million) employees are working in these institutions. Nearly 10% of them retire every year”. Mr. Choubey said that a road map to SCOPE will be soon presented on how to evaluate the scheme. A base from which the partnership could take off, the paper would focus on a nucleus of 10 to 12 PSUs and then it would be broadened to include more PSUs. Likewise, the public sector bank would prepare a coordinated proposal for a partnership with the HRD Ministry on adult education.