SWADES Initiative: Skill Mapping programme for Indians returning from Abroad

The Government of India is to conduct SWADES initiative to map the skills of Indians returning from abroad. SWADES is Skilled Workers Arrival Database for Employment Support.

Highlights

• The SWADES initiative has been begun under Vande Bharat Mission. 
• The initiative aims to generate database of Indians returning from abroad based on their skill sets and experience. 
• The database will then be used to fulfil need of foreign companies and Indian companies.
• The maximum number of Indians returning are mainly from UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar. 
• These persons returning were primarily employed in automotive, oil and gas, tourism, aviation, IT, hospitality and IT.

SWADES initiative

• The initiative is to be conducted by Ministries of Civil Aviation, External Affairs, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. 
• The returning citizens will need to fill up forms under the programme. 
• The form consists of details of job title, work sector, years of experience, etc. 
• A toll free facility has also been set up to support citizens for their queries in filling the forms.
• The main aim of the initiative is to provide employment for the Indians returning from abroad.

Background

• The COVID-19 pandemic led to the closing of companies all over the world. 
• This made 1000s unemployed. Thus, they are returning to India.

Vande Bharat Mission

• The Mission aims at bringing Indians from all over the world. 
• Under the mission, the non-scheduled commercial flights will carry people from Singapore, USA and London. 
• Currently, the mission is working in bringing around 80,000 Indians from Gulf countries.