Govt goes counseling way to make youth retain jobs

After witnessing massive departure from the youths offered jobs of several kinds during mega skill summits and job fairs, the Jharkhand Skill Development Mission Society (JSDMS) is going to introduce special counseling and screening sessions increase the retention ratio.

In addition, to lure the candidates to continue with their respective jobs offered, three months free common lodging facilities with foods will be provided to the selected candidates.

An official of JSDMS quipped that the cost of lodging facilities at different places will be borne by the State Government. “Through motivational counseling sessions, screening of eligible candidates who are actually willing to work after receiving three months skill development training will be given training clearing their mental blockage. Besides this, negotiations on different grounds with companies who are coming for recruitment are on. Issues ranging from salary, facilities, perks are being discussed with the company representatives,” said MD of JSDMS, Ravi Ranjan.

A report suggests that maximum candidates left jobs offered citing different grounds within or even less than three months after joining the firms which presents a worrisome picture about the Government effort. In a bid to stop migration, the State government on January 12, 2018 had conducted a Skill Summit –2018 where around 26,500 youths from across Jharkhand were given offer letter. However, the whole exercise of giving jobs to trained youths went haywire when merely 12,000 skilled youths joined the jobs offered to them.

In the first Skill Summit, 13,988 candidates have failed to join their jobs as of May 3, more than three months after the offer letters were distributed. Furthermore, the joining data released by JSDMS suggests that 3075 candidates were given offer letters in which merely 820 candidates joined. For the Financial Year -2018-19, the target given to Department of Higher, Technical Education and Skill Development is 60,000, highest among all the departments.

Similarly, in Rural Development 2713 candidates were offered job out of which 1785 candidates joined. For 2019, Department of Rural Development (DDUGKY) - has been given the target of 12,000. The target of Urban Development Department has been increased from 3314 to 10,000. In 2018, 2050 candidates accepted the offer letter.

Department of Labour, Employment and Training has been given the target of 12,000. The department in 2018 provided offer letters to 4417 candidates but just 1021 candidates turned up. Besides these departments, Department of Industries and Mines (Tool Room + CSR) including Department of Welfare will also offer job letters to 2000 and 4000 youths respectively.

Through Skill Summit – 2019, the State government has decided to cover 1 lakh trained youths, the exercise to rope in eligible youths for imparting training is likely to begin from July 2018. Chief Secretary (CS) Sudhir Tripathy recently issued a district wise target list to all Deputy Commissioners (DCs).

Tripling the target, the district-wise list which will cover candidates from 18 years to 35 years have been released for which the senior officials of each district have been asked to focus on quality training, establishment of placement cell and organisation of placement camps. To save State’s face, JSDMS – MD assured that all factors are being examined so that youths who are given offer letters not just joins the respective companies but lend their service for a descent period. Meanwhile, when enquired about the average monthly salary that was offered to candidates in 2018 and popular trades that has good retention rate, Ranjan said, “On an average, Rs 9,500 was offered. All technical jobs have quite good retention rate. According to last record, beauty and wellness including retail sector can be placed in bottom in terms of popularity.”