Indian Railways will make available sparable infrastructure, which are not operationally required by Railways for the time being, to Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE). The Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) through Directorate General of Training (DGT) and National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and in consultation with Railway, would identify areas within Railway premises where MSDE will undertake skill development programmes for unemployed youth especially in rural & remote areas.

Minister explained that the MOU is intended to provide skills to the youth of this country to enable them to find suitable employment opportunities in the country. The MOU is not intended for skilling Railway employees for enhancing their technical expertise as in house training is already being imparted to them. Minister also stated that Railways regularly undertake recruitment for filling up of Technical vacant posts to meet its requirements. Occurrence of vacancies due to retirements and their filling up is a continuous process and some vacancies are inevitable.

Railways would provide only spare infrastructure to the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, who in turn, through their authorized representatives would conduct Skill Development Programmes. Wherever Railway technical manpower can be spared beyond their normal duty hours, their services can also be made available on voluntary basis, if required.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Railways Shri Manoj Sinha in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.