COSIA, in association with TSSIA, organized an awareness session on the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) and the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) on 30.01.2024. This session, in addition to covering NAPS-2 and NATS, also addressed the Guidelines of the Apprenticeship Act 1961, provided a walkthrough of the NAPS Portal, and discussed State Schemes like MAPS.
The National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) is a Government of India initiative aimed at promoting apprenticeships throughout the country. The scheme offers financial incentives to companies that hire apprentices, along with training and support for the apprentices themselves. The NAPS Skill India portal facilitates the discovery of apprenticeship opportunities for both companies and individuals. Implementing schemes like NAPS can significantly enhance productivity and improve employee well-being, provided they are understood and implemented effectively.
Mrs. Sujata Soparkar, President of TSSIA, warmly welcomed the speakers from NSDC and Abhinav Institute of Technology and Management, as well as the participants. Mr. Nipun Mehta, Honorary General Secretary of COSIA, provided a brief introduction to NAPS and encouraged participating MSMEs to take advantage of the scheme.
Mr. Mohammad Kalam, Regional Director – West Region for NSDC, delivered a detailed presentation on NAPS-2 and NATS, comparing NAPS-1 with NAPS-2 and highlighting the benefits of employer enrollment in NAPS. The National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme offers several advantages to employers, including:
- Exemption from EPF and ESI contributions for the apprentices.
- Reduced recruitment costs, as trainees become productive contributors after a short training period.
- Enhanced talent identification, enabling employers to assess and potentially retain trainees based on performance.
- Flexibility in training location and duration, ranging from 6 to 36 months.
Representatives from Abhinav Institute of Technology and Management also presented on the role of Third Party Aggregators (TPAs) under NAPS-2. Approximately 40 MSMEs participated in this informative seminar.