Huge youth strength could be advantageous if proper skills imparted

Updated on: Wednesday, January 25, 2012

India's burgeoning youth bulge, with a huge segment of the population below the age of 30 years, provides a huge opportunity at a time when the rest of the world's masses are ageing if we impart adequate skills to youngsters, a senior Parliament official has said.

Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region Paban Singh Ghatowar said that a global shortage of labour, especially in advanced economies, as predicted by many organisations including the UN could be utilised to India's advantage.

"In major economies, people are ageing and there is a huge change in demography. However, here in India, even the UN predicts that the average age profile will remain young for quite some time," Ghatowar, who is also Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, said here during the inauguration of the North-East Skills Conclave organised by industry chamber CII.

"While a big population is not desirable, it could however, come as an advantage provided we are able to impart adequate training and skills to them," he said.

He pointed out that even now, in countries like the UK and the Middle East region, the Indian expatriate community plays a big role.

The minister, however, noted that even though India continues to record impressive growth despite the global slowdown, the fruits of India's success story are not being shared equally across the country.

"The eastern region, and particularly the northeastern states, are yet to fully benefit. Existing vocational skills and infrastructure facilities will not be enough for the states in eastern India to benefit from the demands of the market," Ghatowar said.

He added that the northeastern states, with their high literacy rate and natural proficiency in English, can make huge strides if skill development is promoted in the region.

Speaking on the occasion, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said the country's educational policy was for a long time not focused on the basic needs of employability and job creation.

"Merely having a large number of youths is not enough without imparting them proper training. Otherwise, it will only lead to instability and chaos. Our educational policy so far was in the wrong path. Only in recent years has the government realised the importance of vocational training, which in Western countries forms a part of basic curriculum," Gogoi said.

The Chief Minister said the lack of skilled manpower has meant the loss of a competitive advantage for the country.

"Even in a place like Guwahati, Chinese bricks are cheaper than local-made bricks, not to talk of furniture and toys. Even for securing training in facials and make-up, youths in our country prefer to go and learn in Thailand and Singapore rather than in Delhi," he said.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had last week asked all the ministries to prepare skill development plans in the run-up to the General Budget in mid-March.

The government plans to train 500 million people in various skills by 2022.

Development of North Eastern Region Ministry Secretary Jayati Chandra said the northeastern states have received huge outlays in both the 11th and the 12th Five-Year Plans, but that has not resulted in job opportunities for the youth of the region.

While the Plan outlay for the North-East stood at Rs 80,000 crore during the 10th Plan (2002-07), during the first three years of the current Plan (2007-12), the outlay was Rs 1,40,000 crore.

"Why have investments not translated into job opportunities. That has to be looked into. Besides, there is a a need for boosting demand for quality products internally. It will make employers focus on skills and also help youths find locally gainful employment," she said.

The eight northeastern states account for around 2.6 per cent of the country's total GDP and 3 per cent of its population.

Huge youth strength could be advantageous if proper skills imparted

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