Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, May 20, 2015 :

Construction workers in Odisha have something to smile about if they are registered with the Welfare Board of the Odisha Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board (OB & OCWB).

The OB & OCWB has entered into a pact with the OP Jindal Community College (OPJCC), a pan India skills development Initiative of the Jindal Foundation, for upgrading and certifying the skills of construction workers in the State.

The MoU was signed between state Labour Commissioner Smt Shalini Pandit and the Director of OP Jindal Community College, Miriam Carter which is all set to benefit thousands of construction workers in the state who are registered with the Welfare Board.

The skills up-gradation exercise shall have two entry level categories, each aligned with the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) in bar bending, masonary, shuttering, carpentry, plumbing, painting, and scaffolding trades.

Skill certification is a critical requirement in the construction industry sector to ensure proper deployment, safety standards and productivity of the workforce. Certified workers will be eligible to work in India and abroad.

The MoU valid until April 2018 clarly spells out that OPJCC will impart training on construction sites throughout the state. The current skills of workers will be strengthened in terms of national occupational standards for the respective trades, including knowledge, behavioural and practical competences. OPJCC will coordinate with the labour ministry empanelled partners to conduct the assessment and provide government certificates to qualified candidates.

A beaming Carter said, “This is a great opportunity to partner with the Government of Odisha to advance the nation’s goal to ‘Make in India’. Upgrading construction workers is an imperative for numerous civil and industrial development projects, as well as improving the productivity of self-employed individuals. The work of the Jindal Foundation underpins our efforts to contribute to “Nation Building.”

OPJCC is an empanelled training provider for the Ministry of Skills Development and Entrepreneurship’s Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) of Construction Workers’ Scheme.