1. INTRODUCTION
The Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Department was established, by the Government of Sikkim in September 2015, vide Notification No.44/Home/2015, dated 21.09.2015. The Hon’ble Chief Minister is the Minister in-charge of the Department.

1. (1) AIMS &OBJECTIVES:-

1. To evolve an appropriate skill development frame work by creating opportunities and scope for the talented youths of Sikkim and to upgrade the existing sectors which are under the Skill Development Department.
2. To remove the disconnect between the demand and supply of skilled manpower through vocational and technical training, skill up-gradation and skill mapping of existing skills with proper certifications.
3. To promote skill development of the unemployed youth to make them self-employed reliant and independent.
4. To provide various job opportunities for unemployed youth by conducting trainings in various trades/disciplines, duly making them skill qualified.
5. To create awareness among the unemployed youth and school drop outs, about the various Industrial and other Government Training programmes.

1. (2) TARGET:-

To eradicate unemployment amongst the youth by facilitating more employment generating schemes and programmes so as to make the youth self-reliant and thereby promoting entrepreneurship.

1. (3) ADMINISTRATIVE SETUP OF THE DEPARTMENT

The Department is headed by the Secretary who is supported by various officers and staff looking after the different sections of the Department.

ADMINISTRATIVE SECTION:

1. Additional Director
2. Dy. Director
3. Under Secretary
4. Office Superintendent

The above officers are further supported in carrying out the functions of the Administrative section by a stenographer, one UDC, two LDCs, an Office Assistant and other non regular staff.

ACCOUNTS SECTION:  The Accounts section is headed by the Additional Director Accounts. He is assisted in his task by a Sr. Accounts Officer, two Accountants and two Account Clerks.

DIRECTORATE OF CRAFTSMANSHIP TRAINING SCHEME AND EMPLOYMENT (DCTS&E): The Directorate is headed by a Director and under it there are three Government Training Institutes (ITIs), one Hospitality Training Institute and one Apparel Training and Design Centre, the details of which are as under:

1. Government ITI Rangpo
2. Government ITI Namchi,
3. Government ITI Gyalshing,
4.  Hospitality Training Centre Sokaythang,

The Government ITI Rangpo was the first ITI set up by the Government of Sikkim in the year 1976. It is situated along NH-10, 38 kms from Gangtok at Mining in Rangpo, East Sikkim.The Institute is located amidst the growing industrial belt of Sikkim and offers a conducive environment for the conduct of the various trainings. The Institute helps in producing skilled manpower through modern workshops and training under the guidance of qualified and trained Instructors. Information, Education and Communication programmes, were held at various Secondary Schools and Block Administrative Centers to create awareness of the Institute among the local youths and to create local entrepreneurs for the future. There is a high demand of skilled manpower from various industries in the State which have resulted in good placement avenues for the ITI students.  Hostels for both boys and girl trainees are available and the trainees can avail these facilities at a nominal rate. They only have to pay the mess fee.
  The Government ITI Namchi is located at lower Kitchudumra about 14 kms away from Namchi Headquarter, South Sikkim.  It was established in the year 2008. The Institute was declared as the Model ITI for the State of Sikkim, by  the DGT, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India. The Institute provides quality training in technical education through vocational courses for skill development of the youth. Since the objective of ITI is to provide skilled manpower to the various industries, modern workshops have been constructed for imparting training in different trades.
  The Government ITI Gyalshing was established in the year 2010 and was initially being operated from a private rented house at Guruthang. In March 2014, it was shifted to Lower Kyongsaon, after the completion of its own structure. The Institute comprises of the Administrative block and the Workshop Building Block. It imparts Technical job oriented education to the trainees.
 
The Hospitality Training Institute (HTI), Sokaythang is being run by the Regal Institute of Management Studies (RIMS), in the office premises of the Shram Bhawan, Sokaythang.
The Institute offers “Food Production (Cook General) Course” under the Directorate of Craftsmanship Training Scheme and Employment (DCTS&E).The primary target under this Scheme is to cater to the unemployed youth of the State. They are trained with all the necessary skills required in the food production sector, so as to make them market ready and provide them with employment through job placements and also self – employment opportunities.
  The Directorate of Capacity Building was established in the year 2007. The Directorate was initially under the Department of Personnel, Administrative Reforms and Training (DoPART), but from 2011 till 2013, it was brought under the Labour Department and from July 2013 onwards the allocation of business of the Directorate was merged with the Human Resource Development Department. It has now been brought under the Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Department since 2015.
Under the visionary guidance of the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Sikkim, since its inception, the Directorate has been focusing on the principle of equal opportunity for all through various capacity building and skill development programmes. It has facilitated in sending the youths of the State for skill development training programmes free of cost and more than 80% of them have found placements both in the State and outside the State.       
The Directorate mainly looks after the following schemes.

1. Matters related to the Chief Minister’s Self Employment Scheme (CMSES) being implemented through SIDICO.
2. Matters related to Comprehensive Educational Loan Scheme (CELS) being implemented through SIDICO and
3. RSETI in Sikkim.

The establishment of a full-fledged State Institute of Capacity Building at Karfectar, Jorethang with the purpose of imparting training, transfer of knowledge and building stronger capacities of the unemployed youth is perceived with a visionary intent.

The past experience analysis and the general trend of unemployment in the State reveals that a vast array of training options has to be made available for the educated unemployed youth. This Institute a centre for youth to learn about their strengths and needs, to prepare for successful and fulfilling lives as adults, make choices about their futures and take up related training after which they may be able to build their careers. In a way this Institute is catering to the needs of youth development which would include strategies related to academic development, delivering quality and standards based training, work skills, and core values.

The objective is to create highly skilled workforce empowered with improved skills, knowledge and equipped themselves for earning their livelihood. It aims to increase the productivity of workforce both in the organized and the unorganized sectors, seeking increased participation of youth, women and other disadvantaged sections and to synergize efforts of various sectors and reform the present system.

This Institute caters to all the services that will align the various capacity building and youth development system, so that the youth of Sikkim are better prepared for promising careers and post school & College options. This Institute shall identify existing capacity building resource institutes and entities and experts within the country and even overseas and establish appropriate national/international linkages and network which may help in addressing proper and successful transitional needs of the youth of the State.

In the initial stage, this institute has introduced pilot programs, the experience of which will be examined and on, the basis of which extended programs shall be introduced. As regards the quality of the program, the Institute has designed courses in such a way as to ensure the quality of content, including practical training and effective modes of delivery and on –the- job training etc. This institution has established counseling and placement cell to assist students to make right educational and vocational choices. Apart from assisting trainees, the institution shall remain in close contact with employing establishments for job placements of trainees.

The Institution , in view of the Government policy under Chief Minister’s Youth Empowerment Scheme selects training Partners /Institutions of repute based on parameters of recognition and accreditation of National and State bodies, experience, past performance and placement records, viability of records etc.. The institute awards Certificate of Competency on successful completion of the course based on actual testing of skills that a student has attained by administering tests/examinations as required under accreditation regulations of Indira Gandhi National Open University and State Board of Livelihood Schools.

In other hand, the Institute is in process of acquiring affiliation of reputed, leading and recognized National and International Education and Training Organizations and the certificates thus issued to its trainees are nationally and internationally recognized. With the setting up of this Institute, the State will make significant inroads in the growing high rates of unemployment amongst the youth of Sikkim. It will truly build self-reliance in our youth who have imbibed values, life skills, and livelihood capabilities and are knowledgeable and assertive in demanding their rights in the work place – “Empowerment”.

The Institute shall in its fold cater to all categories of youth from School Leavers, Youth with different types of physical disabilities, to rural youth and urban youth. The establishment of this Institute is an inclusive policy of the State Government that focuses on holistic development of young people that will shape up their future. It is integrated into the Government’s policy planning frameworks, both in terms of strategic planning and resource allocation under Chief Minister’s Youth Empowerment Scheme. The integration would prioritize youth development and ensure its implementation and to see that the Government’s INTENT becomes a reality.