**Summary:**
This document summarizes the Indian government's response to a parliamentary question regarding region-specific skill training modules in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, focusing on the tea industry, ecotourism, and forest-based livelihoods. As part of the Skill India Mission (SIM), the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) provides skill, reskill, and upskill training through various schemes, including Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Jan Sikhshan Sansthan (JSS), National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), and Craftsman Training Scheme (CTS) via Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs). PMKVY is a demand-driven and sector-agnostic scheme. In Jalpaiguri, there are eight job roles under PMKVY related to the tea industry, ecotourism, and forest-based livelihoods. Since 2015-16, as of June 30, 2025, 11,159 candidates have been trained in these trades in Jalpaiguri district. The government collaborates with local ITIs and polytechnics where feasible through convergence with State government initiatives and the Skill Hub Initiative. Jalpaiguri has eight ITIs, including seven government-run and one private ITI.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship: A ministry of the Government of India responsible for skill development and entrepreneurship.
Skill India Mission (SIM): A Government of India initiative aimed at providing skill training and development opportunities to the youth of India.
Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY): A flagship scheme under the Skill India Mission focusing on providing vocational training and certification to Indian youth.
Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal: A district in the state of West Bengal, India, which is the focus of the region-specific training modules mentioned in the text.
Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs): Institutions that provide vocational training in various trades and skills.
Jan Sikhshan Sansthan (JSS): A scheme under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship that provides vocational training to non-literates, neo-literates as well as school drop-outs by identifying skills that have a market in the region.
National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS): A scheme to promote apprenticeship training in India by providing financial incentives and support to employers.
Craftsman Training Scheme (CTS): A vocational training program to provide skilled workforce to the industry.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4036
ANSWERED ON 18.08.2025
REGION-SPECIFIC TRAINING MODULES IN JALAPAIGURI
4036. DR. JAYANTA KUMAR ROY:
Will the Minister of SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP be pleased
to state:
(a) whether the Government is planning to introduce region-specific skill training
modules for tea industry, eco-tourism and forest-based livelihoods in Jalpaiguri and if so,
the details thereof;
(b) whether any partnerships with local Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) or
Polytechnics in Jalpaiguri have been established for certified skill development; and
(c) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF SKILL
DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
(SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)
(a) to (c): Under the Government of India’s Skill India Mission (SIM) , the Ministry of Skill
Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) delivers skill, re-skill and up-skill training through
an extensive network of skill development centres under various schemes, viz. Pradhan
Mantri Kaushal VikasYojana (PMKVY), Jan Sikhshan Sansthan (JSS), National
Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) and Craftsman Training Scheme (CTS) through
Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), to all the sections of the society across the country
including Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal. The SIM aims at enabling youth of India to get
future ready and equipped with industry relevant skills.
PMKVY is demand-driven and sector-agnostic scheme, covering multiple trades relevant to
local economies, including those connected to tourism, hospitality, agriculture, and
handicrafts. Under PMKVY, there are 08 job roles related to tea industry, eco-tourism and
forest-based livelihoods in Jalpaiguri district and 11,159 candidates have been trained under
these trades in Jalpaiguri district since 2015-16 (as on 30.06.2025).
Collaborations with ITIs/polytechnics are enabled wherever feasible through convergence
with State government initiatives and the Skill Hub Initiative. In Jalapiguri District of West
Bengal, there are 08 ITIs, out of which, 7 are Government ITIs and 01 is Private ITI.
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