Scheme

Industrial development is one of the prime needs for our Country. Great Stress has been laid on this factor in the various development plans of the country. The development and sustainance of industry needs trained personnel to perform the multifarious functions necessary for it. Acute shortage of manpower in the skilled categories is felt in many Industries. It has been realised that Apprenticeship Training Scheme is one of the most important sources of supply of skilled manpower to the industry. With this objective, the Apprentices Act 1961 was enacted in the parliament on 23rd December 1961. The Act came into force from 1st March 1962 and is applicable to the whole of India.

Under the Act, it is a statutory obligation on Employers in the specified industries to engage apprentices as per ratio prescribed in the designated trades.

The State Council for Vocational Training is a counter part of NCVT at State level and it plays the same role, that is played by NCVT at National level. The SCVT is Chaired by the Secretary for Higher and Technical Education.

1. To regulate the programme of training of apprentices in industry so as to conform to the prescribed syllabi, period of training etc. prescribed by the Central Apprenticeship Council.

2. To utilize fully the facilities available in industry for imparting practical training with a view to meeting the requirements of skilled workers.

3. To make it obligatory on the part of employers, both in public-and private-sector industries, to engage apprentices according to the ratio of apprentices to workers ( other than unskilled) in designated trades, Prescribed under the rules.

The training places are located through intensive surveys conducted in establishments. The objective being to locate the maximum facilities for apprenticeship training.

5270 establishments all over the State have so far been engaging apprentices under the Apprentices Act 1961.  

1	No. of Seat Located	73707	-
2	No. of Seats Utilized	45291	-
3	Minorities /Weaker Section ( Utilized Seats )
	Scheduled Castes (S.C)	4914	-
	Scheduled Tribes (S.T)	1892	-
	Minorities	1352	-
	Physically Handicapped (PH)	21	-
4	Women	2062	-

The position with regard to the Apprenticeship Training Scheme according to the latest available statistic’s as on  31/03/2011 is indicated below :

S.N.	Session	Located Seats	Engaged Seats
1	March 2002	25765	23446
2	September 2002	36525	21971
3	March 2003	33302	19931
4	September 2003	44010	22630
5	March 2004	45993	24319
6	September 2004	46284	25083
7	March 2005	48350	27553
8	September 2005	47500	29068
9	March 2006	46077	29782
10	September 2006	47735	31252
11	March 2007	47321	31189
12	September 2007	50017	33520
13	March 2008	53763	34443
14	September 2008	55467	35943
15	March 2009	58181	35296
16	September 2009	60082	37081
17	March 2010	65992	39987
18	September 2010	68614	41207
19	March 2011	73707	45291

238 trades relating to both Engineering & Non-Engineering Industries have so far been designated under the the Apprentices Act 1961.

A person, male or female, is qualified for being engaged as an apprentice if he/she is not less then 14 year of age & satisfies the prescribed standards of Education and Physical Fitness.

Age	14 years completed	Weight	15.4 Kg
Height	137 c. m.	Vision	Good

The minimum educational qualification is different for different trades. For some trades, educational qualification is SSC passed or equivalent, whereas for some it is two classes below SSC. There is provision of Apprenticeship Training for ex-ITI students.

Apprentices are generally engaged twice a year, during 16th January to 15th April and 16th July to 15th October each year, but not less than 15th April and 15th October of that year.

The Employer having its own Basic Training facilities can engage fresher Apprentices and employer not having Basic Training facilities have to engage ex- ITI trainees for Apprenticeship.

Employer has his own choice to engage candidates for Apprenticeship Training. For the engage of Apprentices, the employer can advertise the posts in the local news paper / he can send his requisition to employment exchange or render all possible assistance from the bonafied egencis for the engagement of Apprentices. Department is engaging Bharati Melawas in concerned session to engage apprentices in all over Maharashtra.

For most of the trades, the duration of Apprenticeship Training including Basic Training is of 3 Years and other trades, the duration varies from 6 months to 4 years. Duration of every trade is included in the         trade         list attached herewith.

Training Programme for Trade Apprentices in each designated trade is comprised of:

Basic Training

It is imparted to a learner for acquiring a reasonable ability to handle Instruments/Machineries/Equipments independently prior to being moved to Shop Floor/Work Area for furthering trade skills. Basic Training is imparted either in a recognized Industrial Training Institute or in a separate building set up by an employer. It is obligatory to set up Basic Training Centre for the establishment employing 250 or more workers and have to engage fresher apprentices.

On the Job or Shop Floor Training ( Inplant Training )

The shop floor training is to be given to the apprentices by the employer in the workshop.

Related Instructions

The trade apprentice who is undergoing apprenticeship training, in an establishment,during the period of training, shall be given a course of Related Instruction appropriate to the trade, which shall be approved by the State Government. Related Training includes Trade Theory,Workshop Calculation and Engineering Drawing. Such knowledge is required to be given to the Apprentices to become fully qualifiedas a skilled craftsman. Related Instruction shallbe imparted at the cost of the appropriate Government but the employer shall, when so required, afford all facilities for imparting such instructions.

The minimum rates of stipend prescribed under the rules are indicated below. Employers are encouraged to pay higher stipend should they wish to.

S.N.	Period	Stipend
1	1st Year Training	Rs. 1490/- p.m.
2	2nd Year Training	Rs. 1700/- p.m.
3	3rd Year Training	Rs. 1970.- p.m.
4	4th Year Training	Rs. 2220/- p.m.

Every apprentice who has completed the prescribed period of apprenticeship training and has put in minimum required attendance shall appear for an All India Trade Test which is conducted under the aegis of the National Council for Vocational Training. These tests are held twice a year.

It shall not be obligatory on the part of the employer to offer an employment to an apprentice nor shall it be obligatory on the part of the apprentice to accept an employment under the employer on successful completion of training, unless it is specifically provided in the contract of Apprenticeship.

Every person regarded as an apprentice or if he is a minor his guardian shall have to execute a contract of apprenticeship with the employer in the prescribed form, which will be registered with the Apprenticeship Adviser. The Apprenticeship Training will be imparted in pursuance of this contract. The apprentices and the employer shall carry out their obligation under this contract.

Government :

1. To bear the cost on Related Instructions to be imparted to apprentices.

2. To provide Basic Training to apprentices engaged by employer employing less than 250 workers other than unskilled workers.

3. To inspect the progress of training of apprentices.

4. To conduct final examination and issue certificates on behalf of NCVT.

5. To register the contracts of apprenticeship executed between apprentices/guardian and employer and to look into complaints, if any, between them.

Employer :

1. To engage apprentices as per prescribed ratio.

2. To provide Shop Floor Training and Related Instruction to apprentices with his trade.

3. To submit periodical reports and returns to the Government.

4. To meet his share of expenditure in imparting training including payment of stipend to apprentices.

5. To look after the health, safety and welfare of apprentices.

Apprentices :

1. To learn his trade conscientiously and diligently.

2. To attend the practical and Related Instruction classes regularly.

3. To carry out his obligations under the contract of Apprenticeship, to be executed by him at the time of admission.

4. To follow the rules and regulations of the establishments.

Where the contract of Apprenticeship is terminated due to failure on the part of an employer in carrying out the terms and conditions of contract, he shall be liable to pay to the apprentice compensation of an amount equivalent to his three months last drawn stipend.