On the occasion of World Youth Skills Day and fifth anniversary of ‘Skill India’ mission, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Digital Skills Conclave and exhorted the youth to skill, reskill and upskill in order to remain relevant in the rapidly changing business environment and market conditions.
India needs a large base of skilled and competent manpower to become superpower and developed nation. With COVID-19 onset, thousands have lost their jobs, the industry requirements have changed a lot. Vocational education is being implemented under Human Resource Development and Vocational Training is being implemented under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to provide skilled manpower in different vocations.
Elets Technomedia in association with Gujarat Skill Development Mission has organized “National Skill Summit, Gujarat” on World Youth Skills Day. The summit was graced by Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani, Dilip kumar Thakore, Hon’ble Minister, Labour and Employment, Disaster Management, Devsthan, Pilgrimage Development, Gujarat, Vipul Mittra IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Labour & Employment Department, Government of Gujarat and many other dignitaries. Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani inaugurates ‘Project Sankalp ‘ during the summit.
During the summit, Gujarat chief minister Viay Rupani said “India is one of the youngest countries across the globe. India needs to fill the manpower void which has been created. We need to bridge the gap between skill and knowledge. We need to integrate skills with education. Gujarat was the first state to start the skill education.”
He also said we need to prepare over 40 cr youth with employment by 2022 through the Skill India mission.
He also said “We are the first state to start skill Corporation. Gujarat has the lowest unemployment rate in the country. Gujarat is moving ahead during the corona pandemic. To provide training to students, we have also started CM apprenticeship programme. The scheme has gained huge popularity within the youth.”
Also read: IBM introduces digital platform for skill education
He also said we must focus on Made in India products.
Dilip kumar Thakore, Labour and Employment minister , Disaster Management, Devsthan, Pilgrimage Development, Gujarat said “Gujarat govt is entitled to provide skill education to millions of students. We are providing training to skill education through govt ITI institutions. The state govt has done commendable work on skill development. Gujarat has been on top of the table in the National apprenticeship scheme which was started by Govt of India in 2016. We have even started CM apprenticeship programme to provide training to students.”
He also said in the last two years, we have organized over 750 international seminars in colleges and job melas.
He also said Gujarat will be the first state to have Indian Institute of Skills (IIS) on the standards of IITs and IIMs.
Vipul Mittra IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Labour & Employment Department, Government of Gujarat said “The unemployment rate in Gujarat is the lowest across the country. We were the first state to start the Shramik Trains, when the lockdown started. Around 1.5 million people moved out of the state seamlessly. About 3 million outsiders are working in Gujarat. We are eyeing to reskill the jobs post-COVID. We have 287 govt ITIs across the state. With the help of GIZ we are going to upgrade the ITIs in coming days.”
He also said “We have uploaded over 2000 minutes of content in the Gujarati language. We have reformed various labour laws. Gujarat is the first state to increase the shift timings from 8 to 12 hours. We allowed factories to start working round the clock.”
We started an online inspection of factories. We must focus on service sector. During lockdown, we conducted e-job fairs and around 5000 people got employment, he added.
He also hailed Elets Technomedia for organizing such a summit in this crisis.
Shrikant Sinha, Chief Executive Officer, Telangana Academy of Skills and Knowledge, Government of Telangana said “All the educational institutions have been impacted a lot. The pandemic has accelerated the pace of usage of technology. We should maintain social closeness but maintain physical distance. Most of the businesses are happening online. This is an opportunity for all of us to think differently. Automation is here to stay.”
He also said “We have to look things differently. We have to use AI, augmented AI. Changes will happen and the way we are skilling. We need to change things. Agility, adaptability, acceptability will be our three stones. “
Dr. K. P. Krishnan, Former Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India said “This is a pre-COVID world. We must focus on much greater apprenticeship and the importance of learning by doing. We need to increase the scale of apprenticeship in the coming days. Skilling must be given importance. Skilling and education must be integrated with each other. We must also focus on MSMEs.”
Most of India is poor and vulnerable. The govt will create much more ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’. The IT-based aggregator will surge in coming days. The virtual manner will surge in coming days, he added.
People will have less disposable income, dependence on govt scheme will rise. A lot more skilling be done by virtually. Skilling can be done by doing not by hearing or watching, he added.
A. K. Tomer, Executive Advisor, CPPS, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd said “We are engaging highest people in apprenticeship. We are providing all facilities to students during their apprenticeship. We must design new health norms for the skill industry. We must start multi-skilling people in coming days. Industry readiness is also important.”
Peter Cook, British Deputy High Commissioner for Gujarat & Rajasthan said “This is the time for all the govts across the globe to think ways to recover the economy. Our economic health has been impacted a lot. There will be huge changes in coming days. The skill sector is an important sector for all the govts. The younger generation must be equipped to adjust to the new changes. “
He also said “We must introduce new programmes as skills and vocational training will be also very important. We are introducing T-level training for the younger generation. Apprenticeship must be focused on.”
“The skill analysis is also very important as we must understand what skills the industry needs. The implementation of knowledge is important. The use of technology is very vital and we must adjust to the new changes. We are very pleased to work with Gujarat govt” he added.
Sunil Nigandhi, President, Duflon Industries Pvt. Ltd said “This pandemic has given us opportunity to change our education system. Post-COVID we can have LMS, trainee feedbacks and much more. This has also created an opportunity to join hands with foreign firms to prepare our students for global platforms. Post-COVID, we will have huge opportunities for trainees. “
Dr Ravi Gupta, Founder & CEO, Elets Technomedia Pvt Ltd said “We are focusing on skill education in a greater way other than higher, school and pre-school education. Elets have been organizing several conferences outside India also. We are working largely in innovation sectors. It’s been an important day for Skill education. The govt of India is largely focusing on skill education.”
He also delivered a vote of thanks to the CM Vijay Rupani and other esteemed guests.
Dr. Rodney Reviere, Head of Projects, GIZ, Germany said “The Gujarat govt is doing a commendable job in ITI sector. We will work with the Gujarat govt to upgrade the skill education. Germany has adopted blended learning in its schools. Numerous preventive measures were taken in schools to curb the virus. Germany was not prepared to tackle the pandemic as other countries. “
Navin Mittal, IAS, Commissioner, Technical & Collegiate Education, Govt of Telangana said “We introduced skill from extra-curricular to core education. We have started new curriculum with Skills as one of the main subjects. We are focusing more on practical rather than theoretical activities. We are more focused on online progarmmes. The adaption of technology has accelerated in last few months. Online programmes are largely accepted as there is a change in the mind-set of students. “
He also said “We have started dual apprenticeship. We are looking to expand things in coming days. There are huge opportunities in coming days. We must focus on upskilling and reskilling.”
Dr. P. K. Shukla, Vice President (Special Projects) CSR, Pidilite said “The Govt of India introduced a lot of online platforms for students. We need to improve our digital infrastructure across the country especially in rural areas. The online education platforms have been doing a very good job in the pandemic across the country. The CM apprenticeship programme is one of the best in the country.”
Everything can be done from one platform from admissions to results to course materials. The Make in India, we can create a crisis to opportunity, he added.
Supreet Gulati, IAS, Director, Employment & Training, MD, Gujarat Skill Development Mission said “Certain trainings are not going to change. There is no substitute for hands-on training. Apprenticeship is very important for students. The key challenge is our industry has the capacity to take an apprenticeship. The Govt of India is interacting with industry leaders to create apprenticeship within itself.”
He also said “Skilling will be more important in the coming days. We are taking up re-skilling and up-skilling challenges. “
As online platforms gain popularity, it’s a good time to bring online technological education. Many topics don’t require hands-on skilling. We need a platform for vocational training. Online cannot replace vocational training, he added.
