Vijay Garg
Vocational exposure is a solution for employability, according to Vijay Garg. Industry stakeholders must imbue cognitive skills, a growth mindset, cultural intelligence, and digital literacy to foster innovators and entrepreneurs in India. Amidst India’s optimistic GDP growth, there’s renewed focus on skilling initiatives, with the Skill India Mission and the imperative of developing the new generation for ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047 emphasized in the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
In today’s landscape, education extends beyond traditional institutions, embracing the wider scope brought about by market evolution and digital progress. Acquiring market-driven skills not only enhances placement opportunities for youth but also fortifies the foundation of ‘Viksit Bharat’. Despite India’s demographic advantage, the India Skills Report 2022 indicates that overall youth employability stands at only 48.7%, falling short of the targeted 109 million skilled workers.
Data from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) reveals that 86% of those aged 15 to 59 lack vocational training, highlighting the need for a dedicated focus on skilling and education to convert this pool into human capital. Evidence suggests that upskilling the youth could lead to increased incomes, higher profitability, and greater productivity in the economy.
The NEP sets a clear goal to increase the gross enrolment ratio in higher education, including vocational education, to 50% by 2035. This ambition involves adding 3.5 crore new seats to higher education institutions (HEIs), with a focus on a flexible curriculum, creative subject combinations, integration of vocational education with mainstream education, and facilitating multiple entries and exits with appropriate certification. The establishment of Multidisciplinary Education and Research Universities (MERUs) aims to provide top-tier education.
Commitment is pledged to providing vocational exposure to at least 50% of learners through school and higher education by 2050. The vision entails every child learning at least one vocation and being exposed to several more, leveraging India’s extensive education network comprising over 15 lakh schools teaching 25.38 crore students.
Acknowledging the ambitious goal’s challenges, sustained efforts, willpower, and steadfast implementation of critical reforms are deemed necessary. Investments in skill centers in every high school, recruitment of vocational teachers, and the incorporation of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions in schools are essential steps. As India aspires to be the world’s third-largest economy by 2030, confidence is expressed in the commitment to invest in the education system to make India a global leader in skill development.
Highlighting the importance of imparting skill training to young children to cultivate an interest in entrepreneurship, the call is made to expose them to emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, drones, the Internet of Things (IoT), Real Time Analytics, etc. While acknowledging some restructuring of skilling schemes, attention is drawn to the systemic problems affecting the talent ecosystem in India. The emphasis is on equipping youths with necessary skills, transcending the role of mere beneficiaries to become capable contributors.
Addressing the informal sector, which employs approximately 93% of India’s working population, the need to engage marginalized groups through both online and offline channels is stressed. Common Service Centers (CSCs) are identified as facilitators for last-mile reach, while user-friendly and vernacular interfaces are proposed to benefit job and skill seekers. The Talent NODE, with its innovative and inclusive approach, is positioned not as a silver bullet but as a catalyst to help between 50-80 million people find better job opportunities aligned with their skills and aspirations. The interconnected ecosystem is seen as a source of myriad opportunities, enabling India’s youth to become job-ready contributors to the country’s development.
Finally, the imperative for industry stakeholders, encompassing government, private, and public sectors, is highlighted. Their role is deemed crucial in bringing cognitive skills to the forefront, ensuring the youth are job-ready and can significantly contribute to India’s development as a developed nation.
