By Zarina Screwvala

The need for skilling and continuous upskilling is not a new challenge for our nation. With the pandemic and series of lockdown came the adoption of remote work culture, learning new skills, and unlearning old ways of doing tasks. All this happened almost instantly.

According to the Economic Survey 20-21 by the government, rural youth are still lagging in skills training. The data reveals that only 3.1 percent of males (18 years – 29 years) in rural India received the benefits of skill development as compared to 7% of urban male youth. Similarly, the female youth enrolment for skilling courses in rural India was 2 percent in comparison to 6.5 percent of urban youth females.

The skilling ecosystem needs macro and micro-planning for a better future for the country’s youth. This begins with clear data and projections for white-collar and blue-collar jobs as per different regions and states. Post Pandemic sectors that witnessing growth continue to be retail, textiles, telecom and logistics. Several initiatives by the government focusing on increasing productivity in the country and strengthening MSME’s offer huge opportunities in both white and blue-collar workforces. However, meeting this demand will take time to prepare the workforce in the absence of a sound skilling infrastructure.

The rural youth continues to struggle with lack of aspiration, school dropouts and lack of vocational skilling in high school. Also, our society does not have a proactive mindset for acquiring skilling and becoming job-ready. The professions of becoming a doctor, engineer or lawyer are still magnetic to Indian parents. While urban youth get more opportunities to learn and get placements, rural youth don’t get exposure and clarity to choose the way forward to prepare themselves for the job market. They also lack role models to emulate.

There is a need for collaboration between government, corporates and non-profits to strengthen and diversify the rural skilling ecosystem. Here are a few suggestions to help lay a strong foundation for a thriving rural skilling ecosystem and ensure that skilled rural youth is engaged in sustainable livelihoods and have meaningful careers that meet their aspirations:

A. Creating skilling centers closer to underdeveloped rural clusters

Reshma Doke, a 21-year-old final year student could not take up a skilling course due to limited modes of travel and far-off locations of skilling centers. But things changed when, in December 2021, a new skilling center close to her village, was started by Learnet Institute for Skilling. Reshma grabbed on the opportunity and is now completing her Data Entry Operator course at the center. The course comes with an employment guarantee and soon Reshma and 230 youngsters from nearby villages, will be able to start earning, support their families and live an independent life. The center in Pali was carefully selected to ensure that young people in remote and underdeveloped areas can easily access the training center.

B. Contextualize curriculum of skilling courses

I have seen that, due to economic hardships, many rural youths quit their basic education and start taking up daily wage labor opportunities near their village, often at construction sites and on the farms. With no skill in masonry, they make hardly INR 200-250 per day. Suresh Chaya Wak, from Bhavshetwadi Thakurwadi village of Sudhagad block of Raigad district, was from a tribal community with severe financial burdens, he worked, like many of his peers, as an unskilled mason earning INR 250 per day and barely making ends meet. However, with the support of a non-profit, he took up an advanced mason skilling course. Today, with the right skills, his income has increased three times and he earns INR 650 per day for his work. To advance his business, his son has enrolled in an advanced plumbing skilling course.

Skilling programs need to meet the needs of rural youth is an essential step to help them earn better, staying back in their community. Similar to this, since agriculture is still the primary livelihood in rural India, skilling rural youth in the processing of agriculture produce, Ag-Tech and AI is a win-win for rural youth and the rural economy. We also have seen tribal youth who have a strong creative flair enroll for courses like creative wall painting, which should earn them good money and would be a satisfying career choice.

C. Online Skilling

While the boom of online skilling was expected in near future, the pandemic advanced the acceptance and implementation of digital skilling. Due to the lockdown, many initiatives were taken by several states, non-profits and ITI’s to continue skilling initiatives where minimum equipment is required at the home level. The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMA) 2021 shared that the rural internet base of the nation is growing three times faster and is catching up with the urban user base rapidly. With the finance minister too announcing the launch of Desh – E stack portal for skilling and the livelihoods of citizens, the burden of boarding facilities for rural skilling centers reduces. Vocational skilling aspirants can now make use of this sitting in their homes, with just a stable internet connection and an appropriate device.

D. Rural entrepreneurship

The shift in demand and services in the economy, call for creating rural entrepreneurship skills in rural youth. Kanchan Mahadik, a young girl from Mahad in Raigad, post-training in a Beauty Therapy course, runs today a beauty salon and is also training and employing young girls from nearby villages. Sahil Salwarkar, a 22-year-old boy from Shrivardhan, used his skill in welding at subsidized rates and supported fellow villagers in restoring their homes, damaged by the Nisarga cyclone. Building such an entrepreneurial mindset can prepare the rural youth for sustainable livelihoods staying back in their villages, without migrating to cities. We strongly advocate the starting of small enterprises by rural youth as an excellent career choice.

E. Financial Literacy is key

We believe all skilling programs should also have a module on financial literacy, soft skills and career guidance. One course that does soft skills with amazing outcomes are the Food and Beverage Service Steward courses I have seen in action. Within a week the young boys and girls have learned so much confidence and courtesy. They also go on to be placed in well-paid jobs earning around Rs.1 lac plus annually.

F. Creating a sense of pride and an understanding of the aspirations of youth.

By understanding the aspirations and challenges of skill aspirants, training providers and all stakeholders, the entire ecosystem of corporates & government should start working with clearly defined numbers for all sectors, different skillsets for white & blue collar for all regions. Working on a mindset of pride in any type of work, so long as it has dignity and is done with care and skill, is critical to the success of the skilling program.