Page 11 - Plastics News July 2020

LIVE Webinar Session on Post COVID-19 Scenario
'Skills Required by the Industry'

Virtual Conference Organized by AIPMA & RSDC

This digital conference was organized on the 11th of Kapoor, Senior Head- Industry Partnership, CSR
June'20 (Thursday) to deliberate upon and discuss the Engagements, Media & Advocacy ; Mr. Vinod Kumar,
industry's requirements from the manpower for the General Manager, Reliance Industries and Mr. Raju
Short and Medium term time period in the post COVID-19 Desai, Managing Director, Jyoti Plastic Works.
scenario. The discussion entailed sharing the overwhelming
AIPMA organized this conference in association with the change in the way which factories, manufacturing units
Rubber Skill Development Council (RSDC). A Sector Skill and processing industries are functioning now during the
Council set up under the aegis of Ministry of Skill pandemic. There are hygiene factors, shortage of
Development & Entrepreneurship, is focusing on skill manpower is a bigger factor and logistics has also
development & training needs of the Rubber, Chemicals become a struggle. Mr. Arvind Mehta, Chairman GC
and Petrochemicals sector. Council and Mr. Deepak Ballani, DG AIPMA commenced
The discussion was moderated by Ms. Meghna Mishra, the interaction by their Welcome speech acknowledging
CEO RSDC. She has assumed this position at RSDC since this grave issue of reverse migration and the need to
2016 and carries a rich experience of 21+ years, in make manufacturing cost effective again. Further
ahead, Mr. Bheda and Mr. Desai put forth the need to up
monitoring large initiatives of vocational training and is
abreast of latest digital programs and certification skill and re-skill the manpower that industries have
courses. locally available. As reverse migration is a huge
challenge that industries were not expecting, post
The questions that the panelists address were:
Covid, the gap between the skilled and unskilled workers
1. A roadmap or list of skills the Petrochemical sector who were contributing to the petrochemical industry
foresees for the upcoming short (3-12 months) and should be consciously tapered. Financial constraints
medium term (12-24 months). and logistics problems are also faced during state
2. Role of Sector skill council in meeting the lockdown. AIPMA members extended warm thanks to
requirement of new or modified skill/job role basis their new governmental training partners and sector
geographical distribution skill councils i.e National Skill Development Council
(NSDC) and RSDC.
3. Any other relevant fact/trend about the
Petrochemical sector which may be relevant to the To delve deeper into the topic presentations by Mr.
current lockdown and beyond. Vinod Kumar, GM Reliance Ind. gave the audience a
broader view of what to expect from the market
The esteemed panelists who were invited for interaction
opportunities, post Covid-19. How automation and
included Mr. Vinod Simon, Chairman Executive Director manpower would be balanced at a micro and macro
– Simmco Rubber & Plastic (P) Ltd; Mr. Hiten Bheda,
level. Also, it provided great insight on how the
Chairman AIPMA Environment Committee; Mr. Gaurav

July 2020 11 Plastics News