THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In yet another example of floating institutions that might only add to the list of ‘white elephants’, state government has decided to register Additional Skill Acquisition Programme (ASAP), which was an externally-aided project, as a new company, with an initial authorized capital of Rs 5 crore.
ASAP was a project intended to impart skills to students. It was funded by Asian Development Bank. The project, which began in 2012, came to a close in September this year. “By transforming ASAP into a more permanent and formal structure in the form of a limited company, government would be able to ensure the continuous functioning of ASAP and as a separate entity, ASAP would be in a position to play a bigger and meaningful role in future in a self-sustainable manner,” the order issued by the government in this regard said. The government order for registering ASAP as a company also says that it would serve as a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for the implementation of KIIFB and other government projects.
By forming a new company, ASAP is now seeking to duplicate the functions of an already established government company Kerala Academy of Skills Excellence (KASE), which has been designated as the State Skill Development Mission (as per the G.O.(Rt) No.1501/16/LBR) in December 2016. KASE is functioning as the nodal body for the convergence of all the ‘skill initiatives’ in the state which has been recognized by the ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship as the state’s nodal agency for implementing the national skill mission.
The government has also appointed principal secretary (higher education) Usha Titus as the first chairperson and managing director of the company. The officer is set to retire from the service on January 31 next year, which would mean that she can continue as the CMD of the company even after retirement. The directors and the promoters of the newly floated company include Usha Titus, ASAP chief executive officer and additional secretary (higher education) Veena N Madhavan and Kudumbashree executive director S Harikishore. The order further says that the government would nominate experts from relevant fields to the board soon. This implies that apart from re-employment of the retired bureaucrat, more political appointments would follow.
Even as the government makes tall claims about ASAP, an RTI reply obtained last year says that after spending over Rs 365 crore in six years, the ASAP could help only 504 candidates find jobs in various industries across the state.