Special apprenticeship drive held in Guwahati to boost apprenticeship in Northeast

The Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), organised a one-day drive in Guwahati on September 7, to boost apprenticeship opportunities in the North East region. 

The campaign, held at the Assam Water Centre Campus, is part of a focused effort to equip youth with hands-on, paid training, supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a developed North East and Viksit Bharat.

According to a press release, this strategic initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of Ashta Lakshmi and Viksit Bharat, Viksit North East, and aims to provide youth with high-quality, structured and paid apprenticeship opportunities.

The campaign witnessed active participation from key stakeholders, including senior officials from MSDE, IIE, NSDC, Sector Skill Councils, NER State PM-NAPS Nodal Officers, TPAS, PSUs, industry partners, regional training institutions and students.

It marked a significant step toward creating a robust apprenticeship ecosystem in the North East, the press release said.

In his keynote address, Shreeshail Malge, Joint Secretary, MSDE, said, "The North East is not just a region of immense natural and cultural wealth-it is a growth engine waiting to be fully realised."

He added, "Through focused apprenticeship initiatives, we aim to equip the youth of the North East with practical skills, hands-on training, and mobility-linked support. This program is a step towards ensuring that no young person in the region is left behind in India's journey to becoming a global skill capital."

An upgraded portal and its operation were also introduced during the campaign. VS Arvind, Director, MSDE, gave a detailed presentation on the new initiative on NAPS.

Through this initiative, youth from the North East will receive an additional stipend per month for one year, over and above the standard NAPS stipend, promoting both local and inter-state apprenticeships.

The program will be implemented by IIE Guwahati and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), in collaboration with State Skill Missions, Regional Directorates (RDSDEs), and local training institutions.

The event also served as a platform for networking among government officials, Sector Skill Councils, Third Party Aggregators, and industry stakeholders, laying the groundwork for expanded implementation of the pilot.

This special intervention by IIE stands as a scalable and replicable model for region-specific skill development, grounded in local aspirations, aligned with market needs, and supported by collaborative governance, the press release stated.