Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a new mantra for remain relevant during the Covid-19 pandemic and that is — ‘skill, reskill and upskill’.
“Many ask me that in today’s fast-changing business and market, they do not understand how to remain relevant. In this time of corona, this question has become even more pertinent. I give only one answer: The only mantra to stay relevant is skill, reskill and upskill,” he said in a video message. He was addressing a group on the occasion of ‘World Youth Skills Day’, which also marks the 5th anniversary of the launch of ‘Skill India Mission’, an ambitious project of the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister stated that the Skill India Mission launched five years back on the same day has led to creation of a vast infrastructure for skilling, reskilling and upskilling and enhancing opportunities to access employment both locally and globally. It has led to hundreds of PM Kaushal Kendras being set up across the country and increase in the capacity of the ITI ecosystem. Due to these concerted efforts, more than five crore youth have been skilled in the last five years. Referring to the portal launched recently for mapping the skilled employees and employers, he stated that this would help the skilled workers, including the migrant workers who have returned to their homes, to access jobs easily and the employers to contact skilled employees at the click of a mouse. He emphasized that the skills of migrant workers would also help in changing the local economy.
The only mantra to stay relevant is skill, reskill and upskill
Making a strong pitch for Indians to be more skilled and connecting it to self- reliance, the Prime Minister asserted: “Skill is unique — it makes you different from others. It’s a treasure nobody can take away. It’s self-reliance that not only makes one employable, but self-employable.” Modi said that over 5 crore people have been skilled in the last five years. PM Modi said: “Millions of skilled people are needed in several sectors in today’s burgeoning businesses, especially in the health sector. This corona crisis has changed the nature of jobs, along with the world culture. The ever-changing technology has also created an impact on it.”
However, the Prime Minister cautioned, knowledge is different from skill. “A lot of people are confused about knowledge and skill. Such people can read or watch how to ride a bicycle in books or videos — this is knowledge. But actually riding a bicycle is a skill. Knowledge may help, but skill is the actual ability to do things,” he explained.
He further highlighted the potential of the country to capitalize on the skilling opportunities available in the country. He gave the example of the healthcare sector where Indian skilled manpower can supplement the global demand. He stressed the need to map this demand and align Indian standards with those of other countries. Similarly, he suggested that the Indian youth with a long maritime tradition can contribute as expert sailors to merchant navies across the world due to the growing demand in this sector.
The World Youth Skills Day, which is celebrated every year on 15th of July, was celebrated in virtual mode this year. Minister of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey, Minister of State of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, RK Singh, and Group Chairman, Larsen & Toubro Ltd., AM Naik addressed the conclave. All stakeholders of the system, including the extensive network of trainees going into lakhs, participated in the conclave.
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