19 October,2023 06:32 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
PM Modi virtually joined the inauguration/ PTI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, via video conferencing, launched 511 Pramod Mahajan Grameen Kaushalya Vikas Kendras in Maharashtra. These skill development centres, named after the late BJP leader Pramod Mahajan, are being established across 34 rural districts in Maharashtra. According to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office, these centres will offer skill development training programs spanning various sectors to create employment opportunities for rural youth.
Speaking after the inauguration of the centres, he said, "The need of the hour is to have zero-defect products in the manufacturing sector, industry 4.0 needs new skills, governments also need to focus on new skills in the service sector, knowledge economy, modern technology." PM Modi, reportedly, also stressed on need for the development of online training modules for soft skills.
In his speech, he took a swipe at previous governments and said they had no vision or seriousness about skill development among youngsters and added, "This cost the youth dearly despite there being demand from the industrial sector and talent in the youth."
He further said that during his tenure, a separate skill development ministry was created which has thus far benefitted as many as 1.30 crore youths from skill development programmes. "Tribal, poor, Dalit, backward class youths were the true beneficiaries," he added.
PM Modi was also quoted as saying that the agriculture sector also requires new skills for natural farming, processing, value addition, packaging and branding of farm produce.
Each centre aims to train approximately 100 youngsters in at least two vocational courses, with training provided by empanelled industry partners and agencies under the National Skill Development Council. The establishment of these centres is expected to contribute significantly to the development of a more skilled and competent workforce in the region, reducing the need for rural youth to migrate to cities in search of employment.
Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Minister of Skills, Employment, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation in Maharashtra, emphasized the importance of skill development in alignment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision and expressed plans to expand the number of such centres in the future to further curb rural-to-urban migration.
With agency inputs
