Batting for the convergence of various Skill development schemes under a single umbrella, the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said that it was must for realizing the “Make in India” dream of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Delivering his keynote address during meeting of Union Ministers and the Secretaries to the Government of India (GoI) to discuss the issue of convergence of various schemes related to Skill development under a single umbrella here at NITI Aayog, the Chief Minister said that as of now nearly 20 Central Ministries/ departments were implementing over 70 plan schemes for skill development. He said that this multiplicity of skill development schemes, each governed by different set of rules resulted in wasteful expenditure of resources. Mr. Badal said that there was dire need of bringing various skill development programmes under one umbrella. “This needs to be done both at the GoI level as well as in the states for which the views of every one of us was all the most important” he added.
The Chief Minister said that Skill Development was an issue of great importance for the country and its economy and for the future of our youth. He said that it was the need of hour to impart skill training to each and every youth of the country. Mr. Badal said that India today was the youngest country in the world with 65% of its population below the age of 35 but our country faces serious problem of unemployment specially amongst rural youth, woman and lower strata of the society.
The Chief Minister further said that Skill Development of our youth could immensely help in solving the problems of unemployment and poverty. He said that at present our country was way behind the other countries in skill development as we have just 12% of the working population, which was vocationally trained as compared to 96% in Korea, 80% in Japan, 75% in Germany. Mr. Badal further said that according to estimates, the country needs to provide skill training to 109 million new entrants to the job market and around 460 million people were to be reskilled and up skilled by 2020. He said that every sector of our industry from Manufacturing to Healthcare to IT to Tourism etc has been complaining about non availability of skilled manpower and on the other hand a vast majority of youth was without jobs so there was dire need to remove this gap.
Underscoring the need to give Right to Skill to every youth in the country, the Chief Minister said that massive campaign with missionary zeal was required to meet the challenges of skill development. He said that while we may have a common framework at the national level, every state has to focus on sectors, which have potential for employment adding that the skill training must be linked to employment. Mr. Badal said that the mobilization of target population particularly the rural youth, weaker sections and women would require special campaign to make them aware of skill training and motivate them to take the advantage of skill training programs adding that the State Skill Development Missions would have to really work in mission mode.
In his address Union State Minister for Skill Development Mr. Rajiv Partap Ruddy said that the National Skill Development Mission would ensure individuals including those emerging from former education, unemployed and those working in the organized sector were employed and able to assess growth opportunities to improve their prospects. Likewise, he also said that the mission would endeavor to ensure supply and composition of skilled workers was aligned with requirement of business and country’s strategic priorities and flagship programs. Mr. Ruddy also emphasized to make quality vocational training aspirational for youth and valued by employers through certification route. The Union Minister highly appreciated the Punjab model of skill training and development which has yielded positive results in rendering several unemployed jobless youth especially in the unorganized sector to be gainfully employed adding he said the other states should also replicate this model.
On the occasion the Secretaries of different Ministries gave brief presentation on Skill Development, School and Higher Education, Rural Development, Animal Husbandry, Agriculture Medium and Small Enterprises to transform the skill development and entrepreneurship landscape in India besides highlighting the strategic partnership with states on convergence and coordinated skill development effort.The Chief Minister was accompanied by Chief Secretary Mr. Sarvesh Kaushal, his Special Principal Secretary Mr. KJS Cheema, Secretary Technical Education Mr. Rakesh Verma and Resident Commissioner Punjab Bhawan Mr. K Sivaprasad.