PM Modi exhorts youth to skill, reskill and upskill on World Youth Skills Day

Addressing a Digital Skills Conclave on the occasion of the World Youth Skills Day and the fifth anniversary of ‘Skill India’ mission, the Prime Minister said “This day is dedicated to your skills. The millennial youth’s biggest strength is acquiring new skills. Covid-19 has changed the nature of jobs, and then there is a new technology which has impacted our lives too. Our youth have to adopt new skills.

"It is very important to stay relevant in the current time so that people can not only earn their livelihoods but also help others. The mantra to stay relevant is: Skill, re-skill and upskill.”

Elaborating on the idea, the PM said, 'skill is something that you learn - like building a chair from a piece of wood. You increased the value of the wood by doing some value addition, and to stay relevant, you need to keep adding stuff to it. But it is important to expand our skill further. This is known as upskill.'

He described skills as a gift which we can give to ourselves and added that skills are timeless, unique, a treasure trove and a means by which one can not only become employable but also help in leading a satisfying life.

He said that a natural attraction to acquire new skills provides new energy and encouragement in one’s life.

"Skills are not only a means to a livelihood but also a reason to feel lively and energetic in our daily routine," he said.

The Prime Minister also brought out the distinction between ‘knowledge’ and ‘skills’ in his address.

He illustrated this with an example – that knowing how a cycle runs is ‘knowledge’ while actually being able to ride a cycle was a ‘skill’. It is important for the youth to realize the difference between the two and their different contexts and implications. With an example from carpentry, he explained the nuances between skilling, reskilling and upskilling.

He added that not only the youth but anyone can learn new things and keep enhancing their skills.

"This will help make us self-reliant," he said.

He stated that the Skill India Mission launched five years back on the same day has led to the creation of a vast infrastructure for skilling, reskilling and upskilling and enhancing opportunities to access employment both locally and globally.

"It has led to hundreds of PM Kaushal Kendras being set up across the country and increase in the capacity of the ITI ecosystem. Due to these concerted efforts, more than five crore youth have been skilled in the last five years," the PM said.

Referring to the portal launched recently for mapping the skilled employees and employers, he stated that this would help the skilled workers, including the migrant workers who have returned to their homes, to access jobs easily and the employers to contact skilled employees at the click of a mouse.

He emphasized that the skills of migrant workers would also help in changing the local economy.

He further highlighted the potential of the country to capitalize on the skilling opportunities available in the country.

He gave the example of the healthcare sector where Indian skilled manpower can supplement the global demand. He stressed the need to map this demand and align Indian standards with those of other countries.

Similarly, he suggested that the Indian youth with a long maritime tradition can contribute as expert sailors to merchant navies across the world due to the growing demand in this sector.

The World Youth Skills Day, which is celebrated every year on Jul 15, was celebrated in the virtual mode this year.

Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Mahendra Nath Pandey, Minister of State of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship R K Singh and Group Chairman, Larsen and Toubro Ltd, A M Naik addressed the conclave.

All stakeholders of the system, including the extensive network of trainees going into lakhs, participated in the conclave.