Union Minister of State for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Rajiv Pratap Rudy on Wednesday said a skilled person stands brighter chances of being employed than a person who is only educated.The Minister's remarks came as his Ministry concluded a partnership agreement with the Ministry of Education of France to increase cooperation between Indian and French entities, with French company Schneider Electric imparting skills to Indian youth.
"We have to reverse the system where the skilled workforce were looked down upon as the ones who dropped out of the education system," he said."A trained electrician flaunting a smart toolkit by Schneider would perhaps be more employable than a person with an engineering degree," he added.Rudy said the Modi government's dream is to make Indian youth so smartly skilled that they can earn up to 100 dollars per hour, as skilled workers in Europe and America do.
"If we put together IT, soft skills and working knowledge of a foreign language, besides the technical skill, we would be the best workforce in the world. And, the partnership with the world's largest electric company is a step in that direction," he said.Schneider Electric Foundation and Schneider Electric India Foundation will donate didactic equipment, set up labs and also undertake Training of Trainer programmes in skill development centres, jointly identified in consultation with the National Skill Development Council (NSDC) and the Power Sector Skill Council (PSSC)."With huge focus in our country on national missions, like Make in India, Digital India and Smart Cities, there is a great need for skilled workforce in the power, solar energy and automation sectors. The Make in India drive is just not possible without skilled makers," the minister said.Earlier, Rajesh Agarwal, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), said that since industry is the job provider, its involvement at the skill development level is crucial.