India has been independent for seventy-six years. From the Green Revolution to the Digital Revolution, the nation has seen several historical shifts in recent years, and there will likely be many more. Making the best use of its resources is the key to any nation's growth. India has an abundance of natural resources at its disposal, but human resources are what really count. India has an abundance of people resources due to its population of over 140 crores; nevertheless, the secret to its success is in utilising this human capital to create effective human capital. Developing the skills of the nation's rural kids is one strategy to achieve this goal with an NGO working for Rural Development.
Dividend by Demographic
Because they are the drivers and recipients of economic progress, a nation's people are both its greatest asset and its biggest burden. The population's demographics and the calibre of its human resources are vital to a country's economic growth. The population is categorised into three age categories based on age composition: young dependents (under 14 years old), adults (15-64 years old), and elderly dependents (over 65 years old).
By 2030, working-age individuals in India will account for 68.9% of the country's total population, which is predicted to be a record high. Because they increase productivity, this group is also known as the "demographic dividend" because they create an environment that is conducive to accelerated economic growth. A CII analysis states that India's GDP may increase from its present $3 trillion to $9 trillion by 2030 and $40 trillion by 2047 through the constructive use of this demographic dividend.
But our ability to capitalise on the demographic dividend will depend on how well our human resources are developed. The following three elements are crucial in raising the calibre of human resources:
- Instruction Medical
- Education and upgrading
Youth Skill Development: Need and Significance
As per the Central Statistics Office's (CSO) 2017 book, "Youth In India-2017," India presently holds the highest percentage of young people worldwide and is expected to maintain this position for the next two decades. People between the ages of 15 and 29 are considered young according to the National young Policy of 2014. The 2011 census indicates that 34.8% of India's population is under the age of thirty-six.
In addition to being an important time in a person's life, "youth," or the stage between childhood and maturity, is also a critical time in the development of a country. A country's youth make up the majority of its productive labour force and its most economically engaged demographic. NGO working for Rural Development works Youth with education, drive, and talent can steer a country towards prosperity. Conversely, young people who lack literacy, sound judgement, and are unemployed may provide a problem for the economy.
A person's employability is increased by education, suitable training, and skill development, which raises their possibility of obtaining better living situations. It is predicted that one of the main causes of India's unemployment problem is a lack of trained labour. The youth's position in the labour market can be improved by gaining knowledge in their field of employment through upskilling and suitable training. It's important to highlight that both urban and rural kids require skill development.
India's Rural-Urban Divide
Even though there used to be a clear separation between India's rural and urban areas, the country's rural environment has drastically changed recently, giving rise to an increasingly linked economy and the idea of urban villages.
Those original villages that have adapted to the urbanisation surrounding them as a result of the growth of cities are referred to as urban villages. Conflicts between the rural and urban areas are clearly seen here, even if these urban villages eventually combine with the urban ward. Because of this, these urban villages stay abandoned areas of the city, and the young people who live there frequently struggle with identity issues.
The young people in the urban villages reside close to a centre of opportunity—the city. Ironically, though, their incompetence may prevent them from grabbing any. Therefore, it is crucial to recognise potential and create training and skill-development programmes that take advantage of their abilities and meet their requirements. This will reduce the danger of losing this young people to unwanted and anti-social activities in addition to empowering these youngsters and producing a positive workforce for economic development.
Developing Skills in Rural Areas
Rural youth have been compelled to migrate to cities due to the heavy reliance of the rural economy on agriculture, the lack of opportunities for generating a living in villages, and the inability of agricultural-related industries to keep up with technological improvements. But the young of rural India, who make up 68% of the country's population, are often at a disadvantage in today's labour market due to a lack of industry-relevant skills.
The following obstacles must be addressed for skill development in rural areas:
- In rural India, the uptake of vocational training has been remarkably low; in fact, until 2017–18, 93.7% of youngsters had never received any vocational training.
- The concentration of training facilities in cities and towns sometimes restricts access for rural adolescents, mostly females, because of inadequate transportation or other mobility issues.
- The government-run Industrial Training Institutes do not provide a particularly attractive alternative because of their outdated curriculum, limited capacity, and placement prospects.
- Current skill development initiatives frequently fall short of meeting the goals of young people in rural areas.
How to Teach Rural People
Understanding the shifting dynamics of the rural landscape and determining the skill sets that the rural population possesses are the first steps in creating a successful skill-development plan for them. Taking this into account, skill-development courses may be tailored to help participants enhance their abilities in order to meet new demands from the business.
The digital revolution and the widespread use of smartphones and other digital technologies in rural India have boosted young exposure, which has expanded the range of skill-building opportunities. Rural India can have a really suitable atmosphere for e-learning education and upskilling programmes by expanding their coverage to the most distant locations, but internet access in these areas still has to be improved.
Future job growth in the agricultural and related industries might be greatly aided by technological advancements. Furthermore, it is anticipated that the renewable energy sector would produce around 3 million employment as a result of a stronger focus on sustainable development. Therefore, offering rural populations training and skills in fields like agricultural mechanisation, pollution monitoring, and energy conservation can open up a wide range of professional options for them. Additionally, there is a bright future for skill development in healthcare services such as pathology, nursing, lab techs, and paramedics.
In summary
India's demographic change has placed it in a favourable position. However, in order to take advantage of this financial potential, our human resource must be qualified and well-equipped. Early training is the greatest method to equip our workers for the future. For this same reason, over the course of the next ten years, the New Education Policy 2020 will gradually integrate vocational education at the school and college levels. A prosperous future for our nation and its citizens can only be unlocked by properly putting this strategy into practise and combining it with other skill-development initiatives.
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