Skill development comes to the forefront on Youth Skills Day (July 15). And, it is important that the Indian Government is going out of its way to promote skills and job creation, which has again featured in a big way in the Budget 2019, that was recently released.
If one looks around, today’s youth are ready to break new ground and become game changers, not only in India but globally. Full of limitless energy and potential, they are rearing to go and become a success story, in their own steam. They go all out to seek out challenges, innovation and creativity. But, on the other hand there is the picture of unemployment and job creation loopholes that haunts us in the horizon.
To raise awareness about skill development and the problems around it, United Nations designated July 15 as World Youth Skills Day, to highlight the current rising unemployment among youth and the need for definite steps to be taken, so that the situation is controlled globally.
Fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship
Highlighting the need for skilled youth, the Government of India has been supporting the initiative for innovation and entrepreneurship. In fact, several initiatives have been put in place to foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the country, and job creation is one of the foremost challenges facing India. With a unique demographic advantage, our country has immense potential to innovate, raise entrepreneurs and create jobs!
The government also has in mind the importance of women entrepreneurship and economic participation, to enable the country’s growth and prosperity. So, it aims to bring women to the forefront of India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Thus, it puts into the spotlight all policy initiatives that are geared towards enabling equal opportunities for women.
Some of India’s efforts at promoting entrepreneurship and innovation are initiatives like – Startup India, Make in India, Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), Digital India, Jan Dhan- Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM) and so on.
Interestingly, Skill India was launched in 2015, by the Government to empower the youth with skill sets, to make them more employable and productive in their work environment. The importance of this initiative is supported by the fact that our National Skill Mission is chaired by our PM Shri Narendra Modi himself.
With the special demographic advantage, India has 65% of its youth in the working age group. This can be really taken advantage of through well-planned skill development of the youth, so that they add to the country’s economic growth.
As a first, since India’s independence, a Ministry for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) was formed to focus on enhancing employability of the youth through skill development. The skill ecosystem in India, is witnessing some great reforms and policy interventions which is re-energising the country’s workforce today; and is also preparing the youth for job and growth opportunities in the international market.
#SkillsChangeLives. So let’s look forward for the youth of India to ride on the skill enhancement movement, and lead the country to a bright future!
Avtar Madan
Himanshu
Shree Lahiri
