Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated 511 Pramod Mahajan Gramin Kaushalya Vikas Kendras in Maharashtra through video conferencing on Thursday and said that the state governments need to expand the scope of skill development programmes for the youth so that they will be able to help the country in becoming self-reliant. He added that the state governments should focus on designing skill development programmes in such a manner that it will help the country in its growth, reported news agency PTI.
During the address, the Prime Minister said, "How to manufacture zero-defect products in the service sector, knowledge economy using modern techniques, which product manufacturing will help India to become self-reliant — we have to focus on such skills."
PM Modi also emphasised the need to develop online modules for the youth to learn soft skills. He said that the earlier governments had no vision or seriousness regarding the development of skills in the youth. He further added, "This cost the youth dearly despite there being demand from the industrial sector and talent in the youth."
The Prime Minister said that during his tenure, 1.3 crore youth benefitted from skill development programmes after the creation of a separate skill development ministry, stated a release from the Prime Minister's Office. PM Modi said, "Tribal, poor, Dalit, backward class youths were the true beneficiaries."
He further said that the agriculture sector also requires new skills for natural farming, processing, value addition, packaging and branding of farm produce, read the PMO's release.
The Prime Minister then referred to professions which are being carried forward over the generations in the villages. He said that the PM Vishwakarma Yojana was started to help such professions as barber, carpenter, washerman, goldsmith or ironsmit. PM Modi said that under this Yojana, modern equipment and financial assistance are being provided.
He added, “Government is spending Rs 13,000 crore on this and in Maharashtra, 500 plus skill centres will take this forward in the state,” stated the release.