Seconding the same Shariyarr mentions, "We are crippled with lack of infrastructure in our education system, both in terms of scale and quality. There are insufficient ITIs for meeting the skill needs, insufficient trainers and a mismatch of skills imparted in these institutes vis-a-vis the requirements. We need to benchmark our VET model with countries like Germany, China, Australia and take necessary reforms of our education system on priority."

Underlining the significance of skills development," Dr. OP Goel, Head of Bosch India Vocational Center, and Social Engagement shares, "Equipping the workforce with the skills required for the job is a strategic investment that every organisation must make on its employees. Skills development enhances both people's capacities to work and their opportunities at work, offering more scope for creativity and satisfaction at work. Skilling raises productivity, both of workers and of the organisation and in turn, contributes to boosting future innovation and development. Skilling employees opens them to a new world of understanding by not only providing or reinforcing knowledge, but also instilling a sense of confidence to perform better and in the right way. It eliminates assumptions as well as motivates employees when they are exposed to new ideas and methodologies."

Elaborating on the same, Anil Verma, Executive Director & President, Godrej & Boyce adds, "Productivity is a prerequisite for profitable growth. Having and developing a skilled workforce is critical to achieving higher and continuously improving levels of productivity. When an organisation has a workforce that has proven expertise in doing a job well, it must nurture them by giving them newer challenges, thus engaging not just their skills but also their ability to keep learning new skills, increasing their value to their jobs, teams and the organisation. A skilled workforce is also likely to be of help in mapping processes, identifying sources of data and ensuring collection of in-process data so that a fact-based foundation for process improvement is built."

Skilling India
Considering these factors, success of Make in India relies on the skilled workforce. Therefore, Skill India was a need of the hour. "The launch of the Skill India Program is an important milestone towards achieving the objective of skilling with speed, scale and common standards across the country. The program has somewhat helped in bridging the gap of skilled labour, which the country was struggling to fill from a long time. As a manufacturing company, we understand the need for skilled labour in shopfloors and its importance for business. The Skill India program not only provides industry with skilled labour but gives job opportunities to thousands of rural and urban youth in the country. The biggest asset of our country is the quantum and youth of our potential workforce. Training them in a specific industry and occupation will improve our ability to become competitive manufacturers and will help support the ‘Make in India' initiative," continues Verma.

(Continued on next page)