While the Apprentices Act, 1961, has historically benefited the organized sector, the large unorganized workforce, which makes up over 90% of employment, remains largely outside its scope. As India aims to become a $5 trillion economy with inclusive growth, it is vital to extend the provisions of this Act to rural and informal sectors, providing structured training to communities that already excel through traditional skills and hands-on experience.
In rural India, trades such as bag stitching, tailoring, and other handmade crafts serve as key income sources, especially for women and self-help groups. These trades are deeply skill-based yet remain informal and often lack scalability. By integrating them into the apprenticeship ecosystem, the government can help standardise production, improve quality, and open new market avenues for rural youth.
Apprentices trained under experienced local artisans can eventually become micro-entrepreneurs, contributing to the growth of India’s rural economy.
Agriculture, still the backbone of rural India, has evolved...
