Skill India Mission: How Modi's New Initiative Aims to Empower Youth and Boost Entrepreneurship

Skill India Mission Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Skill India mission yesterday on the occasion of World Youth Skills Day. Modi emphasized the importance of promoting entrepreneurship. He stated, "We want opportunities to increase. That is why we have not restricted ourselves to skills; we have focused on entrepreneurship."

This initiative was launched as part of the Centre's Skill India campaign. In a series of tweets, the Prime Minister expressed, “India’s youth is not happy simply asking for things. They want to live with pride and dignity." He further tweeted, “Through a policy-driven approach, we have waged a war against poverty, and we have to win this war. This initiative is not merely to fill pockets but to bring a sense of self-confidence among the poor.”

The Need for Developing Technical Skills in India

India needs to develop technical skills among the people. Better facilities and training for all students are required to bring out the needed skills. However, this kind of news is depressing: IITs lower cut-offs for admissions, to admit students getting even 6% in entrance - The Economic Times

Challenges at IITs

The challenge of maintaining standards at the IITs seems to be growing. While IIT-Roorkee last week expelled 73 students for underperformance (first reported by TOI), it now appears this elite group of institutions will have to lower the bar to admit students from the weaker sections.

My View on Vocational Skills

There is a serious shortage of good electricians, plumbers, and carpenters in the nation. The ones who are available are unreliable and costly. ITIs need to train more people with such vocational skills. We also keep reading that many of the graduates who join companies require a lot of training to be of use in companies. A rethink on the way we train is needed from the grassroots level. Technical skills need to be rebooted from the ground level.