Maharashtra signs pacts with OneStep Foundation, NSDC for AI jobs platform and skilling push

Mumbai: An artificial intelligence-based initiative, "Blue Dot AI Economy", will be rolled out to bring job seekers and industry onto a single digital platform. It will start on a pilot basis in Mumbai Suburban and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar districts. For this, the Skills, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Department and OneStep Foundation signed a non-financial memorandum of understanding.

At the same event, the department also signed an MoU with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) to expand skill development, employability and international employment opportunities in the state. Both agreements were signed at Mantralaya in the presence of Skills, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha.

The aim of "Blue Dot AI Economy" is to connect as many candidates as possible with micro, small and medium enterprises. With the help of artificial intelligence, candidates' skills will be matched with the manpower that industries need, making the hiring process simpler. Based on the experience of the pilot project, it will be examined whether the initiative can be expanded.

Funding has been proposed for the project. Developed by OneStep Foundation, the initiative is based on the principles of digital public infrastructure. By looking at a person's needs and geographic location, it will allow demand and supply of jobs in the local economy to be identified. The areas covered include livelihoods, education and training, micro, small and medium enterprises, and the economic participation of persons with disabilities. The initiative is expected to link citizens, entrepreneurs, industries and various institutions so that local skills, resources and economic opportunities are put to better use.

Under the agreement with NSDC, the two sides will work together on the evaluation of skill schemes, international workforce development, future-oriented skills training, industry-linked training and women's entrepreneurship. A "Skill India International Centre" will be set up in Mumbai. World skills training institutes will be established in six divisions: Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Nagpur, Amravati and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.

Training will be given in modern fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics, automation, drone technology, cyber security and data analytics, according to industry needs. This also includes German, Japanese and English language training, coordination with foreign employers and guidance for candidates seeking international employment. Besides strengthening the industry-linked skills ecosystem and apprenticeship training, both organisations will work together to help women entrepreneurs get access to markets, digital commerce, financial literacy and mentoring.

Present at the event were the department's Additional Chief Secretary Manisha Verma, Skill Development, Employment and Entrepreneurship Commissioner Dr Amit Saini, Maharashtra State Skill Society Additional Chief Executive Officer Anand Mali, Skills Commissionerate Deputy Commissioner Sachin Jadhav, NSDC Chief Executive Officer Arun Kumar Pillai, Mumbai Suburban District Assistant Commissioner (Skill Development) Shailesh Bhagat and OneStep Foundation Programme Director Ikpreet Singh.