PM addresses post budget webinar on Harnessing Youth Power - Skilling and Education
“This year’s budget strengthens the foundations of the education system by
making it more practical and industry oriented”
“Equal emphasis is being given to both education and skilling as part of the
New Educational Policy”
“Futuristic steps like Virtual Labs and National Digital Library are going to
change the entire space of our education, skills and knowledge-science”
“Central government is focussed on providing internships and apprenticeships to
give ‘outside the classroom exposure’ to its youth”
“Provision of a stipend has been made available for about 50 lakh youth under
the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme”
“Government is focussed on creating a skilled workforce for Industry 4.0
sectors like AI, Robotics, IoT, and Drones”
The Prime
Minister, Narendra Modi addressed the post-budget webinar on ‘Harnessing Youth
Power - Skilling and Education’ today. It is the third of a series of 12
post-budget webinars organized by the government to seek ideas and suggestions
for the effective implementation of the initiatives announced in the Union
Budget 2023.
Addressing
the gathering, the Prime Minister underlined that Skill and Education are the
two principal tools during India’s Amrit Kaal and it is the youth who are
leading the nation’s Amrit Yatra with the vision of a developed India.
Highlighting the special emphasis given towards the youth and their future in
the first budget of Amrit Kaal, the Prime Minister said that this year’s budget
strengthens the foundations of the education system by making it more practical
and industry oriented. The Prime Minister lamented the lack of flexibility in
the education system over the years and mentioned the efforts of the government
to bring about change. “Education and skilling have been reoriented according
to the aptitude of the youth and the demands of the future”, the Prime Minister
said. He further added that equal emphasis is being given to both education and
skilling as part of the New Educational Policy and expressed delight that this
step has garnered the support of teachers. The Prime Minister stated that the
move encourages the government to undertake further reforms in the education
and skilling sectors while unburdening our students from the regulations of the
past.
Noting
the experiences during the Covid pandemic, the Prime Minister underlined that
new technology is helping create new types of classrooms. He noted that the
government is focussing on tools that ensure ‘anywhere access to knowledge’ and
gave the example of SWAYAM, an e-learning platform with 3 crore members. He
pointed out the possibility of Virtual Labs and National Digital Library
becoming a huge medium of knowledge. He also mentioned the opportunity to study
in local languages through DTH channels and said that many such digital and
technology-based initiatives are going on in the country which will get more
strength from the National Digital University. “Such futuristic steps are going
to change the entire space of our education, skills and knowledge-science”, the
Prime Minister said, “Now the role of our teachers will not be limited only to
the classroom.” He mentioned that more variety of teaching material will be
available for our educational institutions from all over the country which will
open new doors of opportunities for the teachers while filling the gap between
village and city schools.
Throwing
light on ‘on-the-job learning’ the Prime Minister noted the special emphasis by
several countries and highlighted the efforts of the central government in
providing focused internships and apprenticeships to give ‘outside the
classroom exposure’ to its youth. “Today there are about 75 thousand employers
on the National Internship Portal where requirements for 25 lakh internships
have been posted so far”, the Prime Minister informed. He urged the industry
and educational institutions to make maximum use of this portal and further
expand the culture of internship in the country.
The
Prime Minister expressed the belief that apprenticeships will make our youth
future-ready and highlighted the efforts of the government in promoting
apprenticeships in India. He mentioned that it will help the industries in the
identification of the workforce with the right skills. Throwing light on this
year’s budget, the Prime Minister highlighted the provision of a stipend that
has been made available for about 50 lakh youth under the National
Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme. He said that it is creating an environment for
apprenticeships and also helping the industry in payments.
Underlining
the need for a skilled workforce, the Prime Minister underlined that the world
is looking at India as a manufacturing hub and noted the enthusiasm of the
world about investing in the country. He underlined the focus on skilling in
this year’s budget and mentioned the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 4.0
that will skill, reskill and upskill lakhs of youth in the coming years. He
informed that tailor-made programs are being made according to the needs of
tribals, differently-abled and women through this scheme. He also highlighted
the focus on creating a skilled workforce for Industry 4.0 sectors like AI,
Robotics, IoT, and Drones, thereby making it easier for international investors
to scout talent without having to spend much energy and resources on
re-skilling. The Prime Minister also gave the example of PM Vishwakarma Kaushal
Samman Yojana where emphasis is laid on skill development of traditional
artisans, handicraftsmen, and artists to prepare them for a new market and also
help in availing better prices for their products.
The
Prime Minister highlighted the importance of the role and partnership of
academia and industry in bringing rapid changes in the education sector in
India. He underlined that research will be made possible according to the needs
of the market while also creating room for adequate funding from the research
industry. Highlighting this year’s budget, the Prime Minister mentioned the 3
centers of excellence for AI and said that it will strengthen the
industry-academia partnership. He also stated that ICMR Labs will now be made
available to medical colleges and private sector R&D teams. The Prime
Minister urged the private sector to take maximum advantage of every such step
to strengthen the R&D ecosystem in the country.
Laying
emphasis on the ‘whole of government’ approach of the government, the Prime
Minister said that education and skilling are not limited to the concerned
ministry or department but their possibilities remain in every sector The Prime
Minister urged the stakeholders related to skilling and education to study
these opportunities coming up in different sectors and help in creating the
required workforce. Giving the example of India’s fast-expanding civil aviation
sector, the Prime Minister said that it showcases the growing travel and
tourism industry of India while opening doors to huge sources of employment.
The Prime Minister expressed the desire to prepare an updated database of the
youth who have been trained under the ‘Skill India Mission’. Concluding the
address, the Prime Minister stressed that the trained workforce of India should
not be left behind after the advent of digital technology and AI and urged
industry experts to work in this direction.