Pidilite Industries, a manufacturer of adhesives and industrial chemicals, initiated the first skill development program for the plumbing fraternity in Mumbai under 'Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana' (PMKVY).
Over 50 plumbers have already been trained and certified under this program. Pidilite aims to train over 1000 plumbers across country in this fiscal year.
PMKVY is an initiative by Prime Minister Narendra Modi under Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
According to a National Skill Development Council survey, just 0.5% of plumbers in the country are trained. There is a requirement of 12 lakh trained plumbers by 2020, while the current availability is 2.5 lakh, with most of them untrained or self-trained.
This skill certification and reward scheme aims to enable and mobilize a large number of Indian youth to take up skill training and become employable and earn their livelihood.
Rajesh Joshi, president-sales, consumer product-maintenance, Pidilite said, ''We are proud to be associated with the Indian Plumbing Skills Council. As an industry, plumbing plays a paramount role in providing potable water, safe sanitation and water conservation apart from ensuring safety of buildings and their occupants.''