Gandhinagar, 25 September 2013

Gujarat chief minister Mr. Narendra Modi today while inaugurating the National Conference on Skill Development at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, said, “It is time to equip India’s youth with more skills and proficiencies.” In his opening remarks Mr. Modi said the youth of country is raring to show their mettle in making India more powerful and they need to be provided with more opportunities for skills development. He said Gujarat has taken a lead in this direction by this initiative.

Inaugurating the national conference on birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay, Mr. Modi said, “Keeping the skill development at its centre Gujarat has taken an initiative to deliberate on it at the national level.” The conference was organized by Labour and Employment Department along with Gujarat Council of Vocational Training, Government of Gujarat. The conference was attended by over 5000 participants and others experts who had come from 28 states and four Union Territories also including foreign delegates, central and government agencies representatives.

Lauding the youth power of India, Mr. Modi said, “Youth of this country is raring to go and realize the development dreams of this formidable India. When the technology has altered the measures of management and development, the youth of India needs to be equipped with varied skills required in the wake of the changes that are taking place the World over.”

Craftsmanship-skills are the assets of the poor. And, despite living in most challenging environs and even slums, these accomplished craftsmen are capable of even creating royal palace. A nation is built by their hard work and dedication of such craftsmen and skilled workers, said Mr. Modi while assigning great importance to the work and employment.

Mr. Modi said giving the work its due importance and respecting the workers will only make the people’s power and their formidable abilities a true partner in India’s development.

Gujarat chief minister said India as a nation has everything; youths, intellectual properties, skills and craftsmen abilities and demand for skilled manpower for the development, but, it lacks seriousness of involving all these and make them a partner in the progress. India is the youngest nation in the World and 75% population is below 35 years. Mr. Modi said India would have emerged as the most powerful nation had the rulers of this country post-Independence had considered youths as national asset and made them partner in building the nation. Nobody did this so far and thus this time they have been doing it, said Mr. Modi.

Mr. Modi said there is no nation which has not concentrated on skill development for the youth. Only skilled youth-power can support the development and Gujarat has taken steps in the right direction by focusing on skilled development, Mr. Modi said.

Mr. Modi said, “The present central government and Prime Minister are talking about starting 500 skill development courses. But China has already initiated thousands of courses for its youth. How long will we make our youth wait in realizing their dreams?” He said problems of unemployment could be resolved by the skills and craftsmanship.

Citing indecisiveness of Central Government, Mr. Modi said Prime Minister had set up National Skill Development Council in year 2008 following which national policy of same was announced in 2009. After they formed National Skill Development Corporation Board but eventually there was no progress made on implementation of this policy. Mr. Modi said, “Now in July 2013, they merged all these agencies and formed new one but are yet to create a model for skill development. By creating skilled development network, Gujarat has provided an inspiration for the Centre. The Prime Minister of India himself has given Gujarat national award for best skill development and recognized it at national level.” Gujarat chief minister said the state has given importance to basic level of technical education at I.T.I. and created an able network of it. ITI in each Taluka has become powerful medium of technical education and skill development and is well respected in the society.

Mr. Modi said the states which have effectively executed the skill development for the youth are able to reduce unemployment. He said, “India is capable of fulfilling the demand of skilled human resource in the World. Youth need to be given maximum opportunities to hone their skill.” He cited examples of countries like Australia, Germany, Malaysia and others.

Criticizing the ignorance shown to implantation of Apprenticeship Act by Government of India, Mr. Modi said, “Gujarat has initiated to give additional stimulus stipend as Rs. 1,500 to the existing stipend given by Government of India of Rs. 1,490. This has the number of apprentices go up to 10,000.”

Remembering Pandit Deendayal Upadhyayji on his birthday, Gujarat chief minister said, “Deendayalji gave ‘7-M for Skill’ formula which include Man, Money, Machine, Motive Power, Management, Material and Market and culmination of all these will transform the youth into a skilled person.”

“The way we gave importance to higher education in IIM and IIT, today we need to give similar importance to ITI and skill development”, said Mr. Modi, adding that the share of manufacturing sector in India’s economy is decisive and to capture the world market with zero defect productions and low-cost manufacturing, it is equally important to empower the skill development sector.

Mr. Saurabh Patel, Labour and Employment Minister gave a welcome speech and explained the objective of the national conference. Mr. Patel said by adopting a timely change in the syllabus of ITI and as per the demand of the market, the state government has empowered the youth with an ability to get employment.

Senior economist at World Bank’s Social Promotion Unit, Mr. John David gave his inspiring observations about skilled human resources develop in line with the world labour market demand and production facilities. Mr. David said involving the emerging possibilities of industrial and market management of the developed and developing nations, even World Bank itself is focusing on the creation of human resources. He said this national conference – the initiative of Gujarat will prove catalytic for India in empowering the youth with skill development.

Others who took part in the conference include Australian Trade Commissioner Mr. Tom Calder,, the ministers of the state, secretaries, All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) chairman Dr. S. S. Mantha, advisor to Planning Commission Smt. Sunita Sanghi and industrial houses – officials from different Industrial Training Institutes and specialists in skill development. Additional chief secretary, Labour and Employment Department, Mr. P. Panneervel gave the vote of thanks for the event.

During the conference 10 seminars were organized on different subject areas and over 30 sessions took place.