Press Release
GJF to Promote the National Skills Certification & Monetary Reward Scheme – ‘Star Scheme’ to train retail staff of jewelers
- Government to reimburse full amount of Rs. 10,000 per learner
- G & J Industry poised to gain from skill development under GJF’s Star Scheme
- Star Scheme will benefit 10 lakh youth at an approximate cost of Rs. 1,000 cr
Mumbai, November 28, 2013:
The All India Gems and Jewellery Trade Federation (GJF), the national
trade federation for the promotion and growth of trade in Gems and
Jewellery Industry across India in association with Gem and Jewellery
Skill Council of India, has rolled out the National Skill Certification
and Reward Scheme branded as the STAR SCHEME (Standard Training Assessment & Reward) to train sales staff of the jewellery retailers.
The
Star Scheme has been formulated to encourage skill development for
youth by providing monetary rewards for successful completion of
approved training programs under the Government of India’s National
Skill Certification & Monetary Reward Scheme (NSCMRS). India has
400,000 retail outlets and has over 1.5 million individuals employed as
Retail Sales Associates (RSAs).
With
the Star Scheme being rolled out, GJF offers all jewellers a fabulous
opportunity to upgrade the skills of their existing Retail Sales
Associates at no cost. GJF has affiliated with the Gem &
Jewellery Skill Council of India (GJSCI) to train the jewellers’ Retail
Sales Associates under the Government of India’s
National
Skill Certification & Monetary Reward Scheme (NSCMRS). The
Government of India will reimburse the cost of the training of Jewellery
Retail Sales Associates to the trainees under this scheme.
Mr. Haresh Soni, Chairman, GJF,
said, “The Star Scheme will benefit 10 lakh youth at an approximate
total cost of Rs.1,000 crores. We, at GJF, want to ensure that this
benefit is availed by our entire Member fraternity and the jewellery
Industry at large. The Star Scheme program aims to increase
productivity of the existing workforce and align the training and
certification to the needs of the country. It provides monetary reward
for Skill Certification to boost employability and productivity of youth
by incentivizing them for skill trainings. It rewards candidates
undergoing skill training by authorized institutions at an average
monetary reward of Rs. 10,000 per candidate.”
GJF
will plan the training programmes for the Retail Sales Associates in
every city. Each city will have a minimum of 10 batches scheduled.
Each batch will have 25 learners. The training will be imparted by GJF
appointed training providers like Future Sharp, IL&FS Skill
Development Corporation, LabourNet, Aptech, etc. GJSCI has developed the
content for the training that has been validated by representatives
from our industry. The training will be on the product domain knowledge
as well as on selling skills and soft skills. At the end of the
training the learners will have to undergo as assessment test. The
assessment will be undertaken by the GJSCI. Only the successful
candidates who have cleared the assessment will be awarded a certificate
by the GJSCI and be eligible for the reimbursement of the training
costs under the scheme. GJSCI under the aegis of the National Skill
Development Corporation (NSDC) is the implementation agency for the
scheme.
The
scheme was announced by the Honourable Prime Minister on August 15,
2013 and launched by the Honourable Finance Minister on August 16, 2013.
GJSCI will train the jewellers’ Retail Sales Associates under the
Government of India’s National Skill Certification & Monetary Reward
Scheme (NSCMRS). The Government of India will reimburse the cost of
the training of Jewellery Retail Sales Associates to the trainees under
this scheme.
Gem
and Jewellery has been identified by the NSDC as a high growth sector
to initiate skill-training programs. Most of these individuals have
learnt on the job and have no any formal training. Formal training
would make all Retail Sales Associates STAR performers. Trained Retail
Sales Associates would have a better understanding of the product,
competition, learn new sales techniques and be more confident in their
job and be in a better position to service the customers. Trained Retail
Sales Associates are more productive and will lead to increased
profitability to our jewellery establishments. One of the reasons
Jewellers have been hesitant to train their Retail Sales Associates has
been the cost of training.
About the All India Gems & Jewellery Trade Federation
The All India Gems and
Jewellery Trade Federation (GJF) is the national nodal and the largest
single trade body in India for the promotion and growth of trade in gems
and jewellery across India. It represents over 6,00,000 players
comprising manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, distributors,
laboratories, gemologists, designers and allied service providers to the
domestic Gems & Jewellery Industry. The Gems & Jewellery
Industry is highly labour intensive and currently employs 4.6 mn
individuals. The industry size is estimated to be in the region of Rs.
4,00,000 crore. The Federation’s mission is to support and promote the
progress and prosperity of all the members in the gems and jewellery
industry across India. It also provides regular news updated on
notifications, rules and regulations declared by the Government. It
promotes the trade, by participating in promotional events on a national
level. It encourages the trade through the organization of consumer
exhibits in India. It also counsels educational and research institutes
that help in developing superior quality and high standards for
effective functioning of the trade.
About the Gem & Jewellery Skill Council of India
The
Gem & Jewellery Skill Council of India is an autonomous
not-for-profit organisation working under the aegis of the National
Skill Development Corporation. The GJSCI has been established by the
Indian jewellery industry and represents all the sub-sectors of the
industry such as diamond processing, coloured gemstone processing,
jewellery manufacturing and jewellery retail. The GJSCi has a mandate
to identify the skill development needs of the Industry and plan a road
map for meeting the human resource requirements of the Industry for its
future growth.
About the National Skill Development Corporation
The
NSDC, a one-of-its-kind Public Private Partnership in India, was set up
by the Ministry of Finance as part of a national skill development
mission to fulfill the growing need in India for skilled manpower across
sectors and narrow the existing gap between the demand and supply of
skills.
For further information: Aryan Rana, Adfactors PR (09930372436, 09820531932) E-mail: aryan.rana@adfactorspr.com
Warm regards,
Sheetal Jain
Adfactors PR Pvt Ltd City Hall, Oasis Complex, Kamala Mills Compound
Pandurang Budhkar Marg, Lower Parel (West)
Mumbai - 400 013
Mobile No: +91 7507992955
Tel: +91 22 67574444 Ext: 164
