
WYS Day observed, Modi launches Skill India Campaign

The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi addressing at the launching ceremony of the Skill India Mission, on the occasion of the World Youth Skills Day, in New Delhi on July 15, 2015. The Union Ministers Shri Arun Jaitley, Manohar Parrikar, Anant Geete, Ananth Kumar, Thaawar Chand Gehlot and Santosh Kumar Gangwar are also seen. (Photo: PIB)
New Delhi: Government here today launched SKILL INDIA on the occasion of the first-ever World Youth Skills Day. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the Chief Guest of the event, which was held in the Plenary Hall of Vigyan Bhavan. The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Rajiv Pratap Rudy was the Guest of Honor. Many other union ministers were present on the dais.
During the event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the Skill India logo and launched four landmark initiatives of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship: National Skill Development Mission, National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship 2015, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) scheme and the Skill Loan scheme.
The Skill India logo illustrates a clenched hand in which a spanner and pencil are firmly held, exemplifying the empowerment of the individual through skilling and depicts a Sanskrit phrase ‘Skill Always Wins.’
The PMKVY will skill 24 lakh youth, across India and the skills of young people who lack formal certification, such as workers in India’s vast unorganized sector, will be recognized. Through an initiative known as ‘Recognition of Prior Learning’ (RPL), 10 lakh youth will be assessed and certified for the skills that they already possess.
Prime Minister also launched the Skill Loan scheme. Loans ranging from Rs 5,000-1.5 lakhs will be made available to 34 lakh youth of India seeking to attend skill development programmes over the next five years. Sanction letters for the first ever Skill Loans were handed out by the Prime Minister to some aspiring trainees.
The Prime Minister addressed the audience, articulating a clear overarching vision for Skill India. He highlighted the centrality of skills to India’s development and called on government, private sector and India’s youth to work together to make this vision a reality.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the potential for skilled Indian youth to be recognized around the world. He congratulated six award winners from WorldSkills Oceania, an international skill competition and wished them success as they go on to compete at the World Skills Competition in Sao Paolo next month.
Rajiv Pratap Rudy flagged off 150 Skill Vans on the occasion to create awareness among people of Delhi and NCR region on government’s policies and initiatives on skill development. He said that the government has set a target to provide skill training to 40.02 crore people by 2022.
The national event has been telecasted live across more than 10000 ITIs, NSDC training centres, select Nehru Yuva Kendras, and some educational institutions in all States/Union Territories in India. DD National, DD News, DD India or All India Radio Network also live broadcasted the launch.
World Youth Skills Day and the launch of SKILL INDIA were celebrated today nation-wide. State Governments organized events to emphasize the importance of skill development for the youth in their states, mobilizing candidates, launching fresh training programs and felicitating successful trainees. ITIs across the country also participated in the event through a live feed of the event.