Chief secretaries' meet to discuss job creation, skilling

In its first meeting with the chief secretaries of states since the Lok Sabha election, the Centre plans to focus on the pressing issues of job creation and skilling, said people privy to the preparations for the fourth national conference of chief secretaries to be held in November and likely to be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The theme of the conference - 'Promoting Entrepreneurship, Employment and Skilling: Leveraging the Demographic Dividend' - is in sync with the overarching theme of the budget for this financial year.

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman had summed up the focus of the budget with the acronym EMPLOYMENT, reflecting a focus on related aspects such as education, micro, small and medium enterprises, productivity, energy security, new generation reforms and technology. The budget also announced an internship scheme across private companies for fresh graduates, besides incentive-linked employment opportunities. Taking the thought further, Niti Aayog, which is coordinating the conference, has identified the three main themes of entrepreneurship, employment and skilling, with several sub themes that are to be taken forward by nodal ministries. For instance, manufacturing has been identified as a "pillar", which is being steered by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade.


The sub themes under this pillar are infrastructure, skills, logistics and ease of doing business.

The environment, forest and climate change ministry is looking at issues such as circular economy and examining employment and entrepreneurship potential therein.

The ministries of micro, small and medium enterprises; housing and urban affairs; and of rural development are also among the nodal ministries steering various sub themes for the conference. Working groups have been set up for each pillar involving officials from across stakeholder ministries.