Gandhinagar, November 24, 2016: Encouraged by the success of seven editions of the biennial Vibrant Gujarat Summit (VGS), Chief Minister Vijay Rupani today called for skill development of youth to increase their employability to suit the type of industries coming to the state.

He said that after an industrial revolution of sorts in the country the air is now agog with social equanimity and equal opportunity for all to contribute their mite as per their capacity in nation building. The focus is on skill development at over 100 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), 500 Skill Development Centres, 25 Womens’ ITIs and two ITIs for divyang (physically challenged), being run on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) basis in collaboration with the Centre for Excellence.

Mr. Rupani was inaugurating an International Seminar of Employment Linked Skill Development organized by the State Labour & Employment Department at Mahatma Mandir here in the run-up to the VGS-2017.

He said that several universities have been set up in the state with specialized courses such as PDPU, Raksha Shakti, Forensic Science and the nation’s first Railway University in Vadodara. The focus is on preparing youth as job-creators rather than job-seekers.

Labour & Employment Minister Dilipbhai Thakor said that skill development has become the growth engine for economic development of the nation and the society, to let the youth rise to the global standards. Even as the Gujarat Government has set up a Skill Development University and allotted over one lakh seats in the ITIs in the state, he said that skill development can provide more jobs.
The Chief Minister on this occasion released a booklet on ‘Skill Eco-System of Gujarat’.

UNDP Deputy Country Director Marina Walter said that skill development is essential for social and economic development – be it in the field of agriculture or manufacturing or services. She had a word of praise for Gujarat Model of PPP. She gave details of UNDP initiatives in skill development.

All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) Chairman Anil Sahasra Budhe said that skill development is the pre-requisite for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dream project of ‘Make in India’. In ancient times, villages locally provided all its skill labour. In modern times, engineering colleges and industrial training institutes fulfil the needs. He wished the present seminar in Gujarat became the starting point for skill development programmes in other states, too.

Labour & Employment Principal Secretary Rajiv Kumar Gupta in his welcome address said that lately the demand for highly skilled persons have increased which prompted Gujarat Chief Minister to lay more emphasis on skill development. Labour & Employment Director D.K. Parekh proposed a vote of thanks.

Experts discussed building the right skills for sustainable employment, connecting skills with occupations, challenging and opportunities, skills for green jobs and emerging trades at the day-long seminar.

Prominent among those present at the seminar included Gujarat Parliamentary Secretary Poonambhai Makwana, IL&FS Education MD R.C.M. Reddy, Skill Counselor for Green Jobs CEO Pravin Saksena and a large number of ITI faculty and students.

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