Setting up the agenda for ushering in an era of ‘Skill Revolution’ in the country, Punjab Chief Minister and Chairman of Sub Group on Skill Development, Parkash Singh Badal on Saturday emphasised the need to evolve a common framework at the national level with an ultimate goal to employability and livelihood opportunities under the skill development mission.
Delivering his keynote address during the first meeting of Sub Group of the Chief Ministers on Skill Development here at the NITI Aayog, Badal said that to achieve this objective, a massive campaign with missionary zeal was required. “Every State has to focus on specific sectors, which have potential for employment and above all, skill training would have to be integrated with placement and employment,” he added.
He said India faces serious problem of unemployment especially among rural youth and lower strata of the society adding that skill Development of youth could help in solving the problems of unemployment and poverty. The Chief Minister pointed out 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 to be reskilled and upskilled up to 2020.
He said, “For realising the dream of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make India an economic super power, we have to impart skill training to each and every youth of the country.” The Chief Minister said the State Skill Development Missions would have to really work in mission mode and they would be required to be strengthened at the district and block level.
Underscoring the need for strengthening the State Skill Development Missions, to enhance capacity and improve standards of skilling, he said that private sector participation in skill development must be explored besides suggesting ways and means for improving partnership of private sector in curriculum development, delivery mechanism, certification etc.
“We have to propose measures to expand skilling programmes to every nook and corner of the country and thereby suggest measures for adopting successful experiments and sharing best practices of different States” added Badal. Highlighting the skill development initiatives taken by the State Government, the Chief Minister said, “We have set up Punjab Skill Development Mission to bring all Skill Development programmes and policies under one umbrella.”
“We are also setting up skill development centres in sectors such as healthcare, construction, automobile etc besides focusing on skill development and skill upgradation in the field of agriculture, dairy and other allied activities, which will provide a good opportunity for self employment to our rural youth” added Badal.