Green your skills for green jobs

Ranjan K Baruah *

We are always looking for clean air and water and this is possible when we have a clean environment. We are already aware about climate change and how it is affecting our mother earth. It is important as well as responsibility for each and every one of us to contribute for the environment positively.

In this regard we can think of our careers related to environment and also think of green skills. Lets us understand what is green skills and green jobs. This will help us in choosing our careers related to green future.

According to National Centre for Vocational Education Research, Australia, green skills means ‘technical skills, knowledge, values and attitudes needed in the workforce to develop and support sustainable social, economic and environmental outcomes in business, industry and the community.’

On the other hand according to European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP) green skills means ‘ abilities needed to live in, develop and support a society which aims to reduce the negative impact of human activity on the environment.’ There might be other definition but in simple we conclude that skills which are important and needed for the safeguard of our mother earth and which will add towards sustainable development.

Similarly green jobs are decent jobs that contribute to preserve or restore the environment, be they in traditional sectors such as manufacturing and construction, or in new, emerging green sectors such as renewable energy and energy efficiency. Green jobs are must for mitigating climate change and preserve our nature. Green jobs are central to sustainable development and respond to the global challenges of environmental protection, economic development and social inclusion.

In today’s column, we are publishing about short term skill training courses which are offered by different institutions all over India.

Interested students may visit the website of ministry of environment forest and climate change for further details. Educational qualification vary from courses to course and courses are offered in different locations and all courses may not be available in all regions or states.

Few courses are :
Certificate course on Para-taxonomy [including Peoples Bio-diversity Register (PBRs)];
Certificate Course on Pollution Monitoring (Air &Water/Soil Pollution);
Certificate Course on Waste Management (Solid Waste, Biomedical Waste, Plastic Waste, E-Waste, Construction & Demolition Waste);
Certificate Course in Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Green GDP;
Certificate Course on Forest Fire Management;
Certificate Course on Water Budgeting & Auditing;
Certificate Course in River Dolphin Conservation;
Certificate Course in Community based conservation of Mangroves Ecosystem;
Certificate Course on Plantation Techniques and utilization of Renewable Energy in Arid Zone;
Certificate Course on Bird Identification and basic ornithology;
Certificate Course on Bird Migration and Migration Study Techniques;
Certificate Course on Laboratory technicians/ Technical Assistants for energy efficiency, star labeling and other electrical testing for environmental criteria;
Certificate Course on Laboratory Assistant for Eco-friendly Food Testing Laboratory;
Certificate Course on Plant Tissue Culture Techniques and its Applications;
Certificate Course on Emission inventory;
Certificate Course on Wildlife Management using Geospatial Techniques;
Certificate Course on Cleaner Production Assessment;
Certificate Course on Greenbelt Development for Industries;
Certificate Course on City Environmental Surveyor;
Certificate Course on Paralegal Practices (Forestry Acts and Policy/Environmental Laws);
Certificate Course on Forest Entomology & Pest Control;
Certificate Course on Quality Planting Material Producer;
Certificate Course on Management of Biodiversity Parks;
Certificate Course on Propagation and Management of Bamboo;
Certificate Course on Value Addition & Marketing of Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) - (Plant Origin) (Lantana Furniture and Crafts/ Coconut Shells & Fibre Handicrafts/ Bamboo Crafts/ NTFP Products/Medicinal Plants);
Certificate Course on Value Addition & Marketing of Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) - (Animal Origin) (Wild Bee Keeping and Processing/Lac & Tassar Cultivation);
Certificate Course on Nature Conservation & Livelihood (River based- Ganga Prahari/ Nature Interpretation/Eco-Tourism/Scuba Diving for marine life conservation), etc .

Skill Council for Green Jobs is one of the most recently launched initiatives of the Government of India aligned to the National Skill Development Mission. It is promoted by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

The creation of the SCGJ was approved in the 10th meeting of National Skill Qualifications Committee held on 28th September 2015. Green skills would lead to green jobs and aspirants from different streams may try and choose courses related to their interest so that they can make their career related to same and contribute towards our environment in a positive way.