Government tries to rope in ministries for skill development

Sources stated that various ministries, including Union human resources development ministry and the skill development ministry, are in talks for finalising subjects that can be included in curriculum for professional and vocational future of students. With skill development a focus area of the National Democratic Alliance government, over a dozen ministries are currently in consultation on the subject.

It is also understood that the government is also trying to identify various countries to help partner in its skill development programme. Sources stated that the countries that could be targeted are the US, Russia, China, Japan and nations in West Asia.

The move comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted on the need for optimal utilisation of demographic dividend of the with 65 per cent of the nation’s population below 35 years of age.

In his maiden Independence Day speech Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already called for developing skills to provide meaningful employment of millions of young Indians.

The BJP manifesto too has stated that India has to become a knowledge society and has to reverberate with educated skilled manpower of high standards required to meet the challenges of 21st century. The Prime Minister has promised appropriate policy and structural changes in the sector and is understood to have focused on addressing on the acute shortage of teachers and researchers in these educational institutions.