Prime Minister Narendra Modi presents the Skill Loans to a trainee at the launch of the Skill Loan Scheme under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojna, during the Skill India Campaign in New Delhi, July 15. (Subhav Shukla | PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi pitched for making India a ‘human resource capital’ of the world like China has become a ‘manufacturing factory’ as he launched a number of schemes to train 40 crore people in various skills by 2022 as part of “war against poverty,” in New Delhi, July 15.

India has the potential to provide a workforce of about 4-5 crore to the world if the capabilities of the countrymen are honed through proper and dynamic skill training, he said, adding the government is focused on this aspect.

Noting that the world and technology is changing fast, he said, “We need to have futuristic vision and prepare plans for the next 10 years” and advocated the need for regular interaction between industry and technology experts.

Subramanian Ramadorai, adviser to the Prime Minister of India, National Council on Skill Development, with Teamlease Services chairman Manish Sabharwal at the launch of the Skill India campaign in New Delhi, July 15. (Subhav Shukla | PTI)
Subramanian Ramadorai, adviser to the Prime Minister of India, National Council on Skill Development, with Teamlease Services chairman Manish Sabharwal at the launch of the Skill India campaign in New Delhi, July 15. (Subhav Shukla | PTI)

“If China is recognized as a ‘manufacturing factory’ of the world, India can become the ‘human resource capital’ of the world. That should be our target and we should lay emphasis on our strengths,” Modi said addressing an event here to launch the schemes in the presence of several union ministers and chief ministers of various states.

Observing that there are several developed nations that have wealth but no human resources, he said India, in the near future, will be the only country that can cater to this requirement if proper skills are developed here.

The ambitious schemes launched by him were National Skill Development Mission, the National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship 2015, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana and Skill Loan scheme on the World Youth Skill Day.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi awarding the certificate to a successful trainee under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojna, at the launch of Skill India Campaign in New Delhi, July 15. (Subhav Shukla | PTI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi awarding the certificate to a successful trainee under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojna, at the launch of Skill India Campaign in New Delhi, July 15. (Subhav Shukla | PTI)

As part of the schemes, the government has set itself a target of skilling 40.02 crore people by 2022.

Under the Skill Loan scheme, credit ranging from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 150,000 will be given to 3.4 million youth over five years.

“Through a policy-driven approach we have waged a war against poverty and we have to win this war. We have to form an army from among the poor. Every poor is my soldier. With their potential, we have to win this war,” he said.

“People of India have huge capabilities and this has been recognized the world over since centuries. We have forgotten the skills. We have to regain those,” he said, adding the training institutes in India need to be dynamic.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje at the launch of the Skill India campaign in New Delhi, July 15. (Subhav Shukla | PTI)
Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje at the launch of the Skill India campaign in New Delhi, July 15. (Subhav Shukla | PTI)

Asserting that there is no reason for unemployment and poverty in the country, he said “the foremost priority of the government is to create jobs. For this, we have to create proper structures and this mission is an effort in that direction.”

He said while the Indian IITs made a name for themselves globally in the last century, it is the turn of ITIs (Industrial Training Institutes) to do the same this century.