India’s growth ambitions may not be far-fetched if it can
reap the advantages of the demographic dividend. India is one of the youthful
nations of the World with a median age of 27. Almost 65% of India’s population
is below 35 years. Realising the importance of harnessing skills of the young generation,
government of India offered a high pedestal to skill development. A special
ministry, Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship was carved in May
2014 by the NDA government to reach out to the millions of teeming youth. The Ministry aims to skill and up-skill 500
million youth by 2022.
Across the globe, developing countries are adopting novel
strategies to produce non-degree holding skilled youth. In this direction, the
Skill development initiatives of Peru have been remarkable. With high rate of
success and penetration of skilling in computers they made a huge difference in
the lives of young women living in shanties. The new generation of the young
women who received basic training in computers are now set to evolve into a
brand of promising code-breaking army. A four-month primer course in software
development under the name La Laboratoria (the laboratory) was offered to
students to the underprivileged youth who couldn’t afford expensive education.
Under this new social enterprise students are taught Java Script, CSS and English
language programming terminology for a nominal fee. This program has become
very popular among talented women hailing from poor households and lacking
access to quality education. Nearly 70%
disadvantaged women in this part of World end up in low paying informal jobs
and go through the never ending cycles of poverty. Hence skilling young women
with software skills offer a scope for bright future.
The program initiated by La Laboratoria is aimed to bridge
not only the gender gap but also at creating networking opportunities by having
direct links with the soft ware industries. Thus, the students who are trained
under this program are immediately absorbed into the industry directly. By
organising weekly training sessions with the intellectuals of industry leaders
they are trying to create networking opportunities. Peru’s tech industry is expanding
at a rate of 7-10% since 2009 with internet penetration too registering quick progression;
the Andean country is all set to evolve as the hub for tech industry in this
region.
Peru’s tech industry worth $350 million is making rapid strides.
Study conducted by Inter American Development Bank indicated that tech industry
which is the fastest growing business is projected to employ 1.2 million people
from Latin America and Caribbean by 2025. Currently in Peru, mere 7% of women
are employed in tech industry. The phenomenal success of this program is now
drawing financial grants from the tech companies like Google and telecom firm Telefonica.
It is spreading to its Southern neighbour Chile. With more women entering the
tech industry, there is new dynamism and energy.
The illustrious poverty alleviation programs or the Millennium
Development Goals (MDG) of the UN expired by 2015. From poverty alleviation the
focus has now shifted to sustainable economic development. Having achieving substantial
and significant progress, these goals are replaced by Sustainable Development Goals
(SDG). SDG would officially kick in from January 16th 2016. One of
the broader aims of SDG is to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education
and to promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. This can be attained by
giving major push to Skill Development Initiatives.
Many disadvantaged in third World countries are leaving
school without proper education and skills to earn a livelihood. With thwarted
hopes these young people are jeopardising equitable economic growth and social
cohesion. To reap advantages burgeoning young populations in these countries,
skilling is must. India with 356 million
population in the age group of 10-24 years should emulate the successful skill
development initiatives and try to implement them on a large scale. The Information
Technology sector in India is growing at 9% and contributes to 7.5% of GDP. It
is generating employment to 2.5 million people directly. With internet penetration
of over 40% skilling the youth in computer software can boost young people’s
opportunities for decent jobs and better lives. India being a leading hub of IT
and having evolved as a leader has a great potential for job creation in this
sector. India can harvest rich dividends if it can formulate comprehensive skill
training programmes in this sector.
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