Beyond any doubt, I can say that word ‘Youth’ has now become synonymous with ‘Skill’. So closely are both related that, it is even harder for me to think of youth without thinking of skills. Skill development of youth works as a catalyst for employment of youth and it has never been as important as it is in the present era. A host of factors have necessitated this. These factors include the call for earning demographic dividend, the diminishing employment opportunities in the government sector, a few prospects for decent and willing work and many other factors. At present there is a huge gap between the requirement and availability of skilled men power in the country. This gap ultimately hits hard the productivity and economy of any country. 

HISTORY OF WORLD YOUTH SKILLS DAY

Recognizing the importance of skills for the youth, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in the year 2014 declared July 15 as World Youth Skills Day. Adopting by consensus a resolution, spearheaded by Sri Lanka, the United Nations General Assembly declared July 15 as the World Youth Skills Day. Sri Lanka initiated this resolution, with the assistance of the G77 and China to highlight at a global level, the importance of youth skills development. The than UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Youth, Mr. Ahmed Alhendawi, and his office supported this initiative from the early days, while the UN system in New York and Colombo were solidly behind it.

THEME OF WORLD YOUTH SKILLS DAY 2023

The theme for World Youth Skills Day 2023 is ‘skilling teachers, trainers and youth for a transformative future’. It highlights the essential role that teachers, trainers and other educators play in providing skills for youth to transition to the labour market and to actively engage in their communities and societies.

YOUTH IN INDIA        

India has the unique distinction of being one of the countries in the world where the working age population is in excess of those dependent on them and as per the World Bank this will continue till 2040. With large no. of population in the working age group, India has the demographic dividend. This has been recognized by economists and policy makers as a potential source of significant strength for national economy provided we are able to equip and continuously upgrade the skills of population working in that age group.

Recognizing the importance of skills in development of youths and in the growth of national economy, the government is focusing on skill development of the youth. To remove the disconnect between demand and supply of skilled manpower and to build the new skills and innovative thinking not only for existing jobs but also for jobs that are to be created, Government of India headed by Prime minister Sh. Narendra Modi set up a separate ‘Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship’ on 9 November 2014. The new ministry is to coordinate all skill development efforts across the country. The Ministry aims to skill on a large scale with speed and high standards in order to achieve its vision of a 'Skilled India'.

The Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSD&E) with the objective of Skill Certification to enable a large number of Indian youth to take up industry-relevant skill training that will help them in securing a better livelihood. Individuals with prior learning experience or skills will also be assessed and certified under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Under this Scheme, Training and Assessment fees are completely paid by the Government. The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship is aided in skill development initiatives by its various functional arms that include Directorate General of Training (DGT), National Skill Development Agency (NSDA), National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), National Skill Development Fund (NSDF)

SKILLING YOUTH IN AGRICULTURE

Agriculture sector constitutes the backbone of the Indian economy. This is because of the sector being a source of livelihood for more than 50 percent of the population and contributing about 20 percent to the Indian economy. It is also the largest employment generating sector providing ample opportunities of self employment for youths. The skills of these youths need to be developed. At the national level Agricultural Skill Council of India (ASCI) was formed on 2013 as the 13^th sector skill council to address the end to end skilling needs in agriculture sector that employs more than 50 per cent of the workforce. The Agriculture Skill Council of India has already trained thousands of young persons under the PM Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY). Various other government as well as private agencies and financial institutions in the country like Agricultural Universities, MANAGE,NABARD and other banks are also supporting enterprise development in agriculture sector through skill trainings, monetary support and necessary hand holding. 

The largest Employment Guarantee Programme in the country MGNREGA has now also been revisited by incorporating element of skill development of unskilled workers. This will definitely help them to equip them with better employment opportunities and to also the government to make good the loss of skilled labourers.  This is being done under the project ‘UNNATI’. It aims at ensuring that a MGNREGA family moves beyond labour work to improve employment opportunities. The labourers enrolled in MGNREGA have now the opportunity to upgrade their skill sets and equip themselves with better employment opportunities. To ensure that these MGNREGA workers attend the skill training programmes, the Ministry of Rural Development would make good the loss of daily livelihood of the family to the tune of rupees 200-250 daily as the MGNREGA worker undergoes training. This would also ensure that peoples attend training programmes without the fear of losing out on their daily wages.

A government hand out says that the programme (UNNATI) is meant to train one adult member (between 18 and 45 years) per house household, who has completed 100 days of work under MGNREGA in the previous financial year. The candidate undergoing training will be paid stipend for a maximum period of 100 days and for one programme per household as per the prevailing wages in the state concerned. The Ministry of Rural Development has also tied up with Krishi Vigyan Kendras to upgrade the skills of MGNREGA workers in different aspects related to agriculture like vermi compost production technology, value addition and processing of fruits and vegetables, mushroom and spawn production, artificial insemination, storage of different commodities and many other topics relevant to creation of self employment opportunities.

Agri-Clinics and Agri Business Centers AC&ABC is another programme aimed at skill development of youth in agriculture and allied sectors. The National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad has been designated as the apex institute for implementation of this ambitious flagship programme for the agriculture professionals of the country. The objectives of this programme are to create self employment opportunities for agricultural professionals with degree or diploma and to strengthen extension services in the country by creating a pool of skill developed professionals who could cater to the advisory, diagnostic, inputs, marketing and other related needs of the farming community.

The two objectives are to be fulfilled through the establishment of Agri Clinics and Agribusiness centers. Agri-clinics are meant to provide expert, updated and relevant advice to the farming community based on their requirement.. Agribusiness Centers, as the name suggests these are business entities related to agriculture. These are set up for commercial purposes. The Agribusiness centers are set up by young professionals trained under this scheme. Skill Training of Rural Youth (STRY) is another programme of MANAGE aimed at skill development of rural youth in different areas related to agriculture and allied sectors.

Start-ups have brought up a new type of culture in the country transforming agriculture to agri-business through agri startups where enterprising farmers practice profitable agriculture. Government of India provides proper support through including monetary support for establishing new ventures in the agriculture sector in the form of Start-ups. The start-ups besides generating employment opportunities has also creates new infrastructure in the villages leading to development of these rural pockets.

The day aims at celebrating the strategic importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship. Every year it provides us an opportunity to recognize the potential of young people including teachers and trainers as catalysts for change. Let all of us commit to provide them with the skills and opportunities they need to build a prosperous and sustainable world for all. Together, we have the potential to shape a brighter future where no young person is left unskilled.

(The Author is a scientist at SKUAST-K; can be reached at pkumar6674@gmail.com)