<p><em>Skilling India is an imperative for a strong, prosperous nation where inclusive growth is a reality for all sections of society, writes <strong>Miriam Carter</strong></em><br><br><br>The clarion call to skill India echoes the sage petitions of Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of our Nation. During the Wardha Conference in 1937, he underscored the vital relationship between skills, self-reliance, and independence. Thus, the links between a skilled populace, economic growth, and social mobility were indelibly forged.<br><br>Fast forward to 2015, and it is crystal clear that not only are these ideals profoundly reinvigorating discourse on our national ethos and democratic values, but potentially revolutionising vocational education and training – “skills” -- reforms to improve employability and job creation. Moreover, our abundant young and growing population makes India uniquely positioned to lead the global workforce for many years to come.<br><br><img alt="" src="http://bw-image.s3.amazonaws.com/Miriam-J-Carter-lrg.jpg" style="width: 200px; height: 221px; margin: 1px; float: right;">Skilling India is an imperative for a strong, prosperous nation where inclusive growth is a reality for all sections of society. The National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) and increasing harmonization and coordination of myriad skills initiatives under the new Ministry of Skills and Entrepreneurship promise equal opportunity to quality skills training that is accessible and affordable, and does not shy away from preparing people for jobs, especially youths, girls, and women from rural India where the majority of the population lives. By providing skills for all --- school drop-outs to the educated yet unemployable -- leading to real employment, the nation will be transformed and inclusive development realised. Research literature on human capital theory and observations from developed and emerging economies provide compelling evidence of the correlation between education and training completion rates and improved quality of life indicators, gender equality, population stabilization, and employment.<br><br>Much is at stake for India as the nation takes bold steps towards training the masses. The world is watching: Never before in history has such a Herculean task been attempted in less than a generation. To make strides, quality, relevance, equity, transparent and clear systems are the order of the day not to mention an army of (re)trained teachers and third party assessors; new curricula as well as innovative teaching approaches, reimagined learner materials and job-related practical experiences.<br><br>Integration of technology and an upsurge in massive open online courses (MOOCs) for vocations will facilitate scaling skilling efforts. A sharpened focus on understanding and genuinely responding to the varied needs of diverse learners, many of whom are marginalized and disenchanted with an education system that has failed them, cannot be overstated. Expecting success along with providing the tools to succeed accelerates self-respect, confidence building, and character and values development, transferable life-skills that are needed in today’s workplaces around the globe.<br><br><em>(The writer is Director, OP Jindal Community College</em>)</p>
