The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) on Wednesday held a high-level consultative workshop to boost apprenticeship adoption among Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), aiming to strengthen India’s skilled workforce under the vision of Viksit Bharat. The workshop, titled “Scaling Apprenticeship Uptake in Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs),” focused on increasing apprenticeship participation in smaller businesses and addressing barriers such as low awareness and compliance challenges. Discussions explored models including cluster-based consortia, earn-while-you-learn systems, Group Training Organizations (GTOs), Apprenticeship Embedded Degree Programmes (AEDP), and Work-Integrated Learning Programmes (WILP).
Speaking at the event, Debashree Mukherjee said apprenticeships can bridge the gap between education and employment while helping MSMEs access skilled talent. She stressed the need to simplify apprenticeship systems for small businesses to create more opportunities for youth. The workshop also outlined pilot initiatives across select sectors and regions and proposed policy reforms to improve MSME participation. Later, a sub-committee meeting under the 38th Central Apprenticeship Council discussed inclusive apprenticeship opportunities for women, PwDs, SC/ST/OBC communities, and people from remote areas.
In Guwahati, the initiative could benefit Assam’s growing MSME sector, particularly in manufacturing, handloom, food processing, and service industries. Business groups in Guwahati say easier apprenticeship frameworks and industry-linked training could help local enterprises tackle skilled manpower shortages while creating employment opportunities for youth across the Northeast.