Enhance rural population skills for inclusive growth: Sibal

New Delhi, Jan 14 (UNI) Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal today said the huge unskilled human resource existing in the rural areas have to be tapped to absorb them into the growing Indian economy.

Speaking at the 1st Robotics and Automation Conference here, Mr Sibal said on one hand, the country has a huge population living in the rural areas, which is entirely unskilled and their absorption in the economy depends on the level of their skills.

While on the other hand, we have a small part of the Indian economy contributing to the growth of the country, and the challenge before them is how to modernise their system, in order to make themselves more competitive.

''As they move ahead, they will require more skilled labour, more skilled human resource which is not present in the country.

Therefore, the real challenge before the political establishment of the country is how to get the unskilled human resource living in the rural areas acquire skills, so that they can be absorbed in the economy moving into the 21st century to become more competitive,'' Mr Sibal said.

The minister said the manufacturing sector should prepare itself for the challenges of competition as the country moves towards becoming a global integrated economy.

''We need to match quality, adopt global practices and give the best product from our manufacturing units. This in turn will result in creating more employment opportunities,'' Mr Sibal said adding that ''what is needed is to replicate the approach of Tata's Nano''.

''Nano represents a level of excellence, which is equivalent to the world standards. It proves small can be beautiful and competitive. And it also represent two very crucial things, accessibility and affordability, which is the reason it has created a splash all over the world,'' he added.

UNI BJR MP VC1618