Govt. plans National Mission on Vocational Education

New Delhi, Aug 15 (UNI) The government plans to launch a Mission on Vocational Education to address the shortage of skilled employees, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said.

''We are planning to launch a Mission on Vocational Education so that the skill deficit in our economy is addressed,'' Dr Singh said in his Independence Day speech.

According to the Prime Minister, a pressing complaint he often hears is that there would be shortage of skilled employees in the coming years.

''As our economy booms and as our industry grows, I hear a pressing complaint about an imminent shortage of skilled employees,'' he said.

In a country, which has huge human resources, shortage of skilled manpower can't be allowed to become a constraint in the economic development, he added.

Dr Singh said greater availability of educational opportunities at the higher education level needs to be ensured so that India has ''not just a literated youth but a skilled youth, with skills which can fetch them gainful employment''.

UNI FZ RL BST1228