Bridging the Gap
Training and equipping the young workforce is the answer to the crisis of no jobs in India
As Chairperson of the Adani Foundation, Priti Adani feels that skilling and reskilling of the workforce is needed to leverage our human capital. Giving the example of Klaus Schwab, economist and the founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum, who rightly pointed out that jobs of the future will not be created by top companies but by young entrepreneurs, Adani tells us how jobs can be generated in future.
ON INDIA FACING THE PROBLEM OF UNEMPLOYMENT
India’s demographic dividends present a competitive edge to us over the global peers. It’s essential to nurture this workforce in line with the changing times. We need to infuse confidence in our young workforce through skilling and reskilling. There is another important aspect we often overlook and that’s the women in our society. Demographically, women form about half of our prospective workforce, but only a fraction of them are enabled and counted as organised workers.
ON TECHNOLOGY AS THE ENABLER
Being skilled makes a person confident. It infuses courage to have ambitions and that reflects in the business environment of a country. We can leverage our human capital by positioning ‘Brand India’ as the global destination with a skilled workforce. We already have some great government initiatives and long-term programmes driven by private sector players working towards that direction. Through Project Saksham of Adani Skill Development Centre (ASDC), for instance, we conduct skill-based training programmes in 65 centres across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and Odisha. The government has come up with several initiatives such as ‘Make in India’ to encourage aspiring entrepreneurs and technology has become an enabler for agriculturists, artisans, farmers and people of other walks.
ON THE ROLE OF INDUSTRIES AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
India has several opportunities for employment at every level of education. The focus of educational institutions should not only be oriented towards global markets but also concentrate on local level jobs. Students must be given hands-on training with prospective employers as well as practical knowledge as opposed to depending completely on theoretical knowledge. A few schools and educational institutions in the country have already started skills training as part of their curriculum but more institutes should join hands in pushing the agenda of practical training and skills development.