Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the state governments need to expand the scope of their skill development programmes for the youth. Speaking after inaugurating 511 Pramod Mahajan Gramin Kaushalya Vikas Kendras in Maharashtra through video link, he said the state governments should focus on designing skill development programmes in such a way that they will help the country grow.
He said enhancement of skills in the manufacturing sector will help the country become `atmanirbhar’ or self-reliant. “We must explore in which sectors skill development or enhancement will give the country strength,” the prime minister said in his speech.
“Need of the hour is to have zero-defect products in the manufacturing sector. Industry 4.0 needs new skills…governments also need to focus on new skills in the service sector, knowledge economy, modern technology,” he said.
The focus should be on the development of skills in the manufacturing sector “which will help us become self-reliant”, the prime minister said, adding, “state governments should expand the scope of skill development.” He also stressed the need to develop online modules for soft skills.
The earlier governments had no vision or seriousness about skill development, Modi said. “This cost the youth dearly despite there being demand from the industrial sector and the youth having talent,” he added.
There is also a lot of demand for skilled youth overseas in the sectors like construction, healthcare, tourism, hospitality, education and transport, he said.
The prime minister also underlined the role of skill development initiatives in bolstering social justice, and mentioned Dr B R Ambedkar’s theory that industrialization helps uplift the Dalits, backward classes and tribals who have small landholdings. The Prime Minister said only those with knowledge and skills can bring about a positive change in society.