NE NEWS BUREAU
NEW DELHI, APRIL 1
The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has decided to make available all National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) and their hostels across the country for conversion into coronavirus quarantine/ isolation facilities. The decision was taken by the Ministry to align its efforts with the Centre in preparedness for the pandemic that has caused tens of thousands of deaths globally. India has so far managed to control the spread of the infection and a nationwide lockdown was implemented last week to encourage social distancing among people, a top official of the Ministry said.
MSDE has also provided the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare a list of around one lakh personnel who have been trained in healthcare skills through various programmes under the Skill India Mission. Trained in various job roles, these candidates will boost the efforts to contain the spread and treatment and care of infected people in the new quarantine/ isolation/ hospital facilities being set up.
Besides, a list of 2,000 health care trainers and more than 500 healthcare assessors have also been shared with MoHFW.
Further, the personnel of the Ministry has also decided to contribute at least a minimum one-day salary to the PM CARES fund to aid the Government’s efforts to fight the coronavirus pandemic.
Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey, Union Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship said the addition of NSTIs will help district and state administrations in treating those infected by the virus by providing an alternative for hospitals and health centres. “Given the global emergency caused by the unprecedented spread of the Novel Coronavirus, the Skill Development Ministry will provide every possible support to the Central Government in fighting this pandemic. We have requested all Regional Directors of NSTIs to fully cooperate with State Government authorities to help them meet the requirement of facilities as and when it arises. Also, the State Governments can use the premises of ITIs for the same .”
Run by the Directorate General of Training (DGT), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) are premier institutes that provide training in specialised skills across its spread of training centers and hostels in the country. The nearly one lakh candidates who will aid in emergency and isolation work in the battle against COVID-19 have been trained in various job roles,including:
| PMKVY Health Trained: 92,040 | Emergency Medical Technician (Basic): 989 |
| Radiology: 373 | Home Health Aid: 1644 |
| X-Ray Technician: 299 | General Duty Assistant: 10,172 |
| Frontline Health Worker: 530 | Phlebotomy Technician: 334 |
