In a historic first, thousands of diploma students who passed out of India’s more than 14,000 Industrial Training Centres (ITIs) were felicitated in a national convocation ceremony where the convocational address was delivered by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi via video link.
Coinciding with the birth anniversary of Vishwakarma, the Indic god of craftsmen and the divine architect, on September 17, the union ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) held a mega national level convocation ceremony for ITI students in an effort to increase motivational level of youth to take up skills and also provided vocational education the same sense of achievement as that of conventional formal education.
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister remarked that as India is moving forward in the 21st century, history has been created today on the occasion of the skill convocation of more than 9 lakh students of the Industrial Training Institutes. He said Vishwakarma Jayanti, is the festival of dignity and consecration of skill. Drawing an analogy to a sculptor making an idol of the god, the Prime Minister said that today it is a matter of great pride for all of us that on the auspicious occasion of Vishwakarma Jayanti, the skills of the students are being honoured and recognized. “Vishwakarma Jayanti is the honour of every person who works hard in the true sense, it is the day of labour”, the Prime Minister continued “in India, we have always seen a portrayal of God in the skill of the labourer. They are seen in the form of Vishwakarma.”
Highlighting the achievements of the Government in the last eight years, the Prime Minister said that India has initiated new schemes with the inspiration of Lord Vishwakarma and is trying to revive the tradition of ‘Shramev Jayate’ by laying emphasis on skill development. “To make this the century of India, it is very important that the youth of India should be equally proficient in education as well as skill”, he remarked and added, “ In the 8 years of our government, about 5 thousand new ITIs have been created in the country. More than 4 lakh new seats have also been added to ITIs in the last 8 years.”
The Prime Minister further said that the government is also going to open more than 5000 skill hubs to promote skill development at the school level. After the implementation of the New National Education Policy, experience-based learning is also being promoted and skill courses are being introduced in schools.
The Prime Minister expressed happiness when he informed the students that those coming to ITI after passing their 10th will get their 12th clearing certificate easily through National Open School. “This will make you more comfortable in further studies”, Modi added. The Prime Minister further added that there is a special provision for the recruitment of youth in the army who have taken technical training from ITIs.
Talking about the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, ‘Industry 4.0’, the Prime Minister remarked that Industrial Training Institutes will have a big role to play in India’s success. He pointed out that the nature of the job is changing with time, therefore, the government has taken special care that the students studying in our ITIs should also get the facility of every modern course. Elaborating on the availability of the courses, Shri Modi said that many courses related to coding, AI, robotics, 3D printing, drone technology, and telemedicine have been started in ITIs. The Prime Minister pointed out that as India is taking lead in the field of renewable energy, solar power and electric vehicles, the courses related to such fields have been introduced in many of our ITIs. “It will be easier for students like you to get employment opportunities”, he added.
Talking about the recent developments of providing optical fiber to every village, and opening lakhs of Common Service Centers, the Prime Minister said that as technology is expanding in the country, so are the job opportunities. He said that more and more opportunities are being created in the villages for the students who have passed out from ITIs. “Be it the mobile repair work in the village or work concerning new technology in agriculture, spraying fertilizer or be it supplying medicine with the help of drones, many such new jobs are being added to the rural economy”, the Prime Minister remarked, “The role of ITIs is very important in this, our youth should make the most out of these possibilities.” The Prime Minister also said that the government is also continuously working to upgrade ITIs with a similar vision in mind. . “The result of these efforts of the government is that today, India has quality in skills, and also diversity. In the past few years, our ITI pass-outs have won many big prizes in World Skills Competitions”, he added.
The Prime Minister highlighted the power of schemes like Mudra Yojana, Startup India and Standup India, which provide loans without guarantee. “The goal is in front, you have to move in that direction. Today the country has held your hand, tomorrow you have to take the country forward” the Prime Minister urged. .
Highlighting the opportunities on a global level, the Prime Minister said that many big countries of the world need a skilled workforce to fulfil their dreams and maintain their pace. In concluding his address, the Prime Minister reiterated the need to keep upgrading the skills that will become the basis of their futures. Prime Minister saud, “When it comes to skills, your mantra should be ‘Skilling, ‘Reskilling’ and ‘Upskilling’!” The Prime Minister urged the students to learn new skills and share their knowledge.
Earlier, the union skills and education minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, speaking at the convocation directed the administrators to provide digital certificate to all pass outs in coming weeks using blockchain and digilocker. He also talked about the credit framework that is being worked for skilled workers so that they can pursue education based on their credits and dream of doing even post-graduations. Pradhan also highlighted how skilling is changing the aspirations of youth and empowering them. Citing example of an ex-serviceman who has turned into a successful entrepreneur, he said this is what Agniveer scheme will do.
MoS MSDE, Rajeev Chandrasekhar while speaking at the event said though higher education has been talked and emphasized for years, now skills education is getting the same attention. “You are foundation of the New India,’ he remarked while talking how post-covid opportunities have expanded and how skills are becoming passports to the world.
