Context

With the aim of making the best of our skilled workforce returning to the country due to the ongoing pandemic, the Government of India has launched a new initiative SWADES (Skilled Workers Arrival Database for Employment Support) to conduct a skill mapping exercise of the returning citizens under the Vande Bharat Mission. 

About

• The initiative SWADES is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Ministry of External Affairs.
• The ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship (MSDE), under the Skill India Mission, has partnered with the ministry of civil aviation (MoCA) and the ministry of external affairs for the initiative.
• MSDE’s implementation arm National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) is supporting the implementation of the project.

How will it be done?

• The scheme aims to create a database of qualified citizens based on their skillsets and experience to tap into and fulfil demand of Indian and foreign companies.
• The collected information will be shared with the companies for suitable placement opportunities in the country.
• The returning citizens are required to fill up an online SWADES Skills Card.
• The card will facilitate a strategic framework to provide the returning citizens with suitable employment opportunities through discussions with key stakeholders including State Governments, Industry Associations and Employers.

What is Vandhe Bharat Mission?

• Vandhe Bharat mission is the massive repatriation operation planned by the Indian government to bring back stranded Indians in different parts of the world in the wake of thecoronavirus
• Citizens in distress will be brought back on commercial aircraft and naval ships based on lists prepared by the India's embassies.
• India has dispatched four Naval ships as part of the first phase of Vande Bharat mission. Indian Navy’s INS Jalashwa and INS Magar operated to bring back Indian citizens from Maldives while INS Shardul and INS Airavat sailed to the UAE. The Navy has named its evacuation effort‘Operation Samudra Setu’.
• India has been under lockdown since March 25 to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. All commercial passenger flights have been suspended for this period.

The need

• The top countries from where the citizens have returned in maximum numbers are the UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
• These have been primarily employed in sectors such as oil and gas, aviation, construction, tourism and hospitality and IT & ITeS. Most of these belong to states of Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka.
• The scheme aims at empowering the returning citizens with relevant employment opportunities.