Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
Inclusive growth, as defined by the Commission on Equitable and Sustainable Development, aims to ensure that the benefits of economic growth are shared by all sections of society, particularly the marginalized and vulnerable. However, India’s growth story has often been accompanied by rising inequality and a significant skills gap. The presence of a large workforce lacking relevant skills – often termed ‘careless and useless manpower’ – poses a substantial obstacle to achieving truly inclusive growth. This issue is exacerbated by demographic dividend pressures, rapid technological advancements, and evolving industry needs, demanding a re-evaluation of our human capital development strategies.
Challenges to Inclusive Growth
The challenge of ‘careless and useless manpower’ manifests in several interconnected ways, hindering inclusive growth. These can be categorized as follows:
Economic Challenges
- Skill Mismatch: A significant gap exists between the skills possessed by the workforce and the skills demanded by industries. This leads to underemployment and lower wages. According to the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) report (2022), only 5% of the Indian workforce has formal skill training.
- Low Productivity: A poorly skilled workforce translates to lower productivity, impacting economic competitiveness.
- Informal Sector Dominance: A large proportion of the workforce is employed in the informal sector, characterized by low wages, job insecurity, and lack of social protection.
- Technological Disruption: Automation and artificial intelligence are rapidly changing the nature of work, rendering some skills obsolete and creating demand for new ones.
Social Challenges
- Educational Disparities: Unequal access to quality education, particularly in rural areas and among marginalized communities, perpetuates skill gaps. The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) consistently highlights learning deficits in primary schools.
- Caste and Gender Inequalities: Social hierarchies and gender biases limit access to education and skill development opportunities for certain groups.
- Lack of Awareness: Limited awareness about available skill development programs and career opportunities.
- Social Stigma: Certain vocational skills are often perceived as less prestigious, discouraging individuals from pursuing them.
Governance Challenges
- Inadequate Vocational Training Infrastructure: Insufficient number of quality vocational training institutes and a lack of industry-academia collaboration.
- Curriculum Relevance: Outdated and irrelevant curricula in educational institutions and vocational training programs.
- Poor Implementation of Skill Development Schemes: Challenges in effective implementation of government schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) due to issues with quality control, monitoring, and placement.
- Lack of Labour Market Information: Limited availability of reliable data on labor market trends and skill demands.
Measures to Address the Challenges
Addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive and multi-pronged approach:
- Revamping Education System: Focus on foundational literacy and numeracy, promote critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and integrate vocational training into the mainstream education system. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is a step in this direction.
- Strengthening Vocational Training: Increase the number of quality vocational training institutes, align curricula with industry needs, and promote apprenticeships.
- Skill Development Programs: Expand the reach and effectiveness of skill development programs like PMKVY, focusing on emerging technologies and sectors.
- Industry-Academia Collaboration: Foster closer collaboration between educational institutions and industries to ensure curriculum relevance and provide practical training opportunities.
- Labour Market Reforms: Simplify labor laws, promote formalization of the informal sector, and improve working conditions.
- Investing in Digital Literacy: Provide digital literacy training to enhance employability and bridge the digital divide.
- Promoting Lifelong Learning: Encourage continuous skill upgrading and reskilling through online learning platforms and other initiatives.
- Data-Driven Policy Making: Improve the collection and analysis of labor market data to inform policy decisions.
Table: Comparing Key Skill Development Schemes
| Scheme | Focus Area | Target Group | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| PMKVY | Skill development for youth | Unemployed youth (14-35 years) | Short-duration training, certification, placement assistance |
| Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) | Skill development for rural youth | Rural youth (15-35 years) | Placement-linked training, focus on sustainable livelihoods |
| National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) | Promoting apprenticeships | Youth with minimum educational qualification | Financial incentives for employers, skill development through on-the-job training |
Conclusion
Addressing the challenge of ‘careless and useless manpower’ is crucial for realizing India’s inclusive growth potential. A holistic approach encompassing education reform, skill development, labor market policies, and social inclusion is essential. Investing in human capital is not merely an economic imperative but also a social one, ensuring that all citizens have the opportunity to participate in and benefit from the nation’s progress. Continuous monitoring, evaluation, and adaptation of policies are vital to ensure their effectiveness in a rapidly changing world.
Answer Length
This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.