India has the youngest population with 356 million  in the age group of 10-24  which illustrates that in the next 30 years to come, most of the workable population of India will be young.  India is poised  to become  the world’s youngest country by 2020,  with an average age of 29 years and therefore account for  around 28% of the worlds workforce.

And it is this demographic dividend which will make India a super power.  This  section of young Indians need to be nurtured and mentored   to  world class skilled professionals. 

India’s present annual training capacity is 4.3 million whereas the industry requirement is 22 million and around 12 million people join the workforce every year resulting in  a large deficit. This  deficit  between the demand and supply  is being  addressed in the Skill India Mission.

Our government has set an ambitious target of skilling 40.2 crore people by 2022, under the new National Policy for Skill Development  with a vision of  Scale and Speed with Standards.     The government would need a huge Rs.6 lakh crores in the next  five years for various training interventions.

A  skilling ecosystem is being developed in the country for this purpose -  Setting up of a separate ministry for skill development & entrepreneurship;  setting up of 33 Sector Skill Councils (SSCs)   for every industry ; constituting State Skill development missions in every state ; formulation of  NOS(National occupational standards ) for each and every job role ; strengthening the catalyzing role of  NSDC  (National Skill development Corporation) et al.

Skill India Mission will be a successful only  if  the Central government, respective State governments, Corporate/Industries, Academia, Training partners, Assessment bodies and all the citizens come together and do their bit  for  the  progress  of the Nation.

As aptly quoted in Bhagavad Gita  :

Karmanyevadhikaraste  Ma Phaleshu Kadachana |
Ma Karmaphalaheturbhurma Te Sangostvakarmani ||   2-47

Which in simple words means :

 You have the right to work only, but never to its fruits .

Let not the fruits of action be your motive, nor let your attachment be to inaction .

The augmented efforts of all stakeholders in the skill development ecosystem will surely make India a Super Power  to reckon with.

Please share your views.

Ms.Sreedevi Devireddy

Panel member - CII  TELANGANA   (Education & Skill development Panel)