World Youth Skills Day: PM exhorts youth to Skill, Reskill & Upskill

“The more we give importance to skill development, the more competent our youth will be.”

~ PM Narendra Modi

On the occasion of World Youth Skills Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a Digital Skills Conclave through video conferencing to extend the message on the importance of skill, reskill and upskill for the youth of the country. According to the PM, youth need to focus on skill, reskill and upskill in order to stay relevant in the ever-changing business environment and market conditions.

The day also marks the fifth anniversary of the Skill India Mission that has led to the creation of vast infrastructure for skilling and enhanced employment opportunities in domestic as well as global markets. The robust infrastructure is evident with the emergence of hundreds of PM Kaushal Kendras that are being set up to transform India into the skill capital of the world.

*Skill, Reskill & Upskill: PM exhorts youth to remain relevant*
Addressing the country, the Prime Minister brought out the distinction between knowledge and skills. He explained the nuances of skilling by illustrating an example – that knowing how a cycle runs is ‘knowledge’ while actually being able to ride a cycle was a ‘skill’. According to the PM, it is important for the youth to realize the difference between the two and their different contexts and implications.

Underlining the importance of skills in the Indian culture for the progress of the society, PM Modi dwelled upon the traditions of worshipping vocational skills on various auspicious occasions like Vijayadashmi, Akshaya Tritiya, and Vishvakarma Pujan. Citing these traditions, the Prime Minister called for due regard for skilled professions like carpenters, potters, metal workers, sanitation workers, horticulture workers, and weavers.

The Prime Minister duly noted that while education aids in guiding on what to do, skill, on the other hand, paves the way in the actual operational implementation. This has been the guiding principle of the Skill India Mission. To date, more than five crore youth has been skilled in the last five years and the PM also expressed happiness that more than 1.25 crore youth have been trained under Pradhanmantri Kaushal Vikas Yojna.

*Skill India Mission: Transforming India into Skill Capital of the world*

“Skills are not only a means to a livelihood but also a reason to feel lively and energetic in our daily routine.”

~ PM Narendra Modi

He described skills as a gift that we can give to ourselves and added that skills are timeless, unique, a treasure trove, and a means by which one can not only become employable but also help in leading a satisfying life. In an initiative to train over 40 crore Indians in different industry-related jobs, Skill India Mission was launched in 2015 to empower the workforce by 2022 with the aid of various schemes and training courses.

Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana deemed as Skill India Mission Program aims to cater to skill development to enable youth to secure a better livelihood. To facilitate the process, training and assessment fees under this scheme are covered by the government.

From providing short-term training to college/school dropouts and the unemployed, to conducting Kaushal and Rozgar Mela to foster active participation from different communities, Skill India Mission aims to create opportunities for the development of talent and enhancing the overall scope and space for the underdeveloped sector.

*Skill India Mission: Benefits to the youth*

In his address, the Prime Minister described skills as a gift that can be given to ourselves and added that skills are timeless, unique, a treasure trove, and a means by which one can not only become employable but also help in leading a satisfying life. With proper skill development, the youth of the country will be on the receiving end of better-paying jobs which leads to a higher standard of living. Aligning with this, trained Indians entering the workforce will lead to achieving better results which carries the potential to boost the country’s economic growth.