Skill India to support industry, economy growth: India Inc

New Delhi, Jul 15: Industry leaders today welcomed the launch of initiatives aimed at scaling up skill development activities in the country saying these were crucial to support growth across sectors and the economy, and will help youth obtain vocational training to secure jobs.

Bhaskar Pramanik, Chairman of Microsoft India said: "The launch of Skill India Mission today marks a renewed effort to capitalise on India's demographic dividend and create a large pool of skilled workforce in India".

"This is crucial to support growth across sectors and the economy, at large. The launch of a skills mission of this scale will make the training efforts more systematic and will ensure a workforce which is professionally skilled and meets industry needs."

On how the financial resources will be generated to achieve the target of skilling over 40 crore people by 2022, S Ramadorai, Chairman of NSDC and NDSA said: "One is of course the debt funding, which the Government of India has pumped in, corporates are going to be a part of that fund also, they can contribute in that fund.

CSR initiatives by corporates, NGOs through the various channels where philanthropy is going to be a way of life.

Anindya Mallick, Senior Director, Deloitte in India: "A very well thought out policy which addresses the need to ensure skill and vocational training as a career option for youth who are not able to complete formal graduation courses."

Chairman and Managing Director of Hindustan Construction Company Ajit Gulabchand said that Skill India is not only a great intiative but also a very essential initiative. "About 30 crore people will come seeking jobs in the next 20 years.

You need to have a serious ability to give them the skills to be able to do their jobs," he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi today launched a slew of initiaves to boost skill development in the country.

The initiatives launched include the National Skill Development Mission, National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship 2015, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) scheme and the Skill Loan scheme.

PTI