'Onus on Indian industries to develop skills'

Industries have greater responsibility towards skill development that will promote the country and meet local aspirations, demand and conditions, union Minister of State for Skill Development Sarbananda Sonowal said Thursday.

"The industries should focus on inclusive skilling and reach out to areas affected by left-wing extremism, the northeastern region and hill states," Sonowal said at the 'Global Skills Summit' organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) here.

Exhorting the industry experts to work with the government to reach out to the youths across the country, Sonowal said the skill development was a social transformation tool to create wealth for individuals and through them for the nation.

"As women constitute a sizeable number, they should also be made to participate in the skill development activities for the country's economic growth," the minister said.

Reiterating the prime minister's emphasis on making skill development and skilled India a mission to promote and develop the country, he said the youths and their parents should be made aware that developing skills was no less than securing a graduate degree in any course.

"The chambers should take the lead to make industries recognise skills not only through jobs, but also by giving preferential employment, higher salaries and facilitate their employees to acquire new skills," Sonowal said.

Delegations and representations from a dozen countries, including Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand, Pakistan, and the Philippines have participated in the summit.