Kolkata, September 30 (IANS). Experts associated with the jewelery industry on Wednesday said that it is necessary to give formal recognition to skill-based education to save traditional craftsmanship and connect the new generation with this sector. He said that artisans are the most important foundation of this industry. Experts stressed that it is extremely essential to combine education and skill training to develop the jewelery sector as an organized professional industry.
Speaking to news agency IANS, Vinod Bamalwa, Chairman of the National Expert Committee on Jewelery and Lifestyle of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Director of Nemichand Bamalwa & Sons, said that the biggest challenge facing the jewelery industry is that the new generation artisans are avoiding coming into this field.
He said that a major reason for this is that till now this work has not received adequate recognition in the form of formal vocational education. He said that if the skills related to jewelery manufacturing are linked to educational degrees and certificates, then the attraction of youth will increase towards this sector.
Vinod Bamalwa further said that the government is making efforts in this direction so that students from class 8, 9 and 10 can be taught jewelery manufacturing and related technical subjects with the help of industry.
“The industry has assured full support to this initiative. If skill training is linked to a degree or formal recognition, it will help in grooming the next generation of artisans and also preserve the traditional art,” he said.
Vinod Bamalwa told IANS that the concerned minister has clearly told the industry representatives to work without any worries and if any kind of hindrance arises, the government is ready to resolve it.
He said that the government wants that skill-based training should also get respect and recognition like higher education. For this, cooperation of the industry is necessary and positive initiatives have been started in this direction.
At the same time, Suvankar Sen, Co-Chairman of the National Expert Committee on Jewelery and Lifestyle of the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and Managing Director and CEO of Senco Gold and Diamonds, while talking to IANS, said that the tradition of workmanship in West Bengal is several decades old and a large number of artisans working in the major jewelery centers of the country like Mumbai, Surat and South India come from Bengal. He said that the industry and the government must work together to ensure that this art and skill is passed on to the coming generations.
Suvankar Sen further said, “The study related to jewelery industry is not limited to just making jewellery. It includes many subjects like metallurgy, marketing, sales techniques and product management.”
He said that if such education is included at the school and college level, the youth can get new opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship. “It is extremely important to combine education and skill training to develop the jewelery sector as an organized professional industry,” he said.
Suvankar Sen further told IANS that the government has constituted a special task force aimed at ensuring that students receive training and education that can truly benefit their careers.
He said that if industry and educational institutions jointly prepare curriculum, skill development and knowledge training will be more effective. According to him, the main objective of the government initiative is to make education in line with the needs of the industry.
–IANS
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