By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, FEB 02, 2014: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for establishment of Hydrocarbon Sector Skill Council (HSSC) was signed here on Friday, between Oil Industry Development Board (OIDB) through L.N. Gupta, Secretary, OIDB and Petroleum Federation of India (PetroFed) through A.K. Arora, Director General, PetroFed in the Chamber of Vivek Rae, Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas. Dilip Chenoy, MD & CEO, National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and Senior Officers of Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, OIDB and PetroFed were also present. Speaking on the occasion Petroleum Secretary Mr Rae said that this initiative will be of great importance to Indian oil and gas sector in augmenting availability of skilled manpower. He lauded the efforts of OIDB and Petrofed for taking up this significant task.

In pursuance of the decisions taken by OID Board in its 86th meeting held on 04.09.2013 and the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, a series of meetings had been held by MoP&NG and OIDB with Petrofed, CII and the Oil Industry to establish the Hydrocarbon Sector Skill Council for the Oil Industry. The present MoU between OIDB and PetroFed is culmination of these efforts, which envisages setting up of Hydrocarbon Sector Skill Council (HSSC). The major oil industry companies like ONGC, OIL, Cairn, HPCL, BPCL, IOCL, GAIL, EIL, RIL and IOTL have already agreed to give their support and participation in the proposed HSSC. In pursuance of this MoU, OIDB and PetroFed have filed a joint application with National Skill Development Council (NSDC). The two organizations will take hereafter required steps to establish the HSSC at the earliest.

HSSC will focus on short-term training for persons / workmen who possess the minimum essential qualifications required by the Oil & Gas Industry. The main role envisaged for HSSC is to impart in a phased manner training for approximately 200 trades already identified based on the feedback of the industry to about 19 lakh persons over a period of 10 years through training institutes to be identified by HSSC.The functions of HSSC would inter-alia, include conducting skill gap studies, developing National Occupational Standards, imparting accreditation/affiliation of training providers, setting-up an effective Labour Market Information System, facilitating training of trainers and training of assessors, identifying training institutes, etc. The revenue model may be based on an initial grant from the National Skill Development Council and thereafter by certification fee from learners, accreditation fees, etc. besides CSR funds of various organizations.