Letters: Technology-skill challenge

Apropos the editorial "Skills and 3D printers" (April 1), the application of new technology in the manufacturing industry not only reduces the number of jobs, it also requires skills not possessed by people who need the job the most. Then, many of the manufacturing companies employ labour in large numbers paying them a pittance.

India needs to use more sophisticated technology to remain globally competitive. We could follow some measures to resolve this paradox such as defining labour-intensive industries and providing incentives to them in proportion to the jobs they create. Asking capital intensive and high-technology companies to identify a certain percentage of jobs involving low-skill or manual operations and mandate them to employ only permanent workers. Besides, the scope of industrial-training-institute training could be broadened to include occupations now available in technology-rich organisations. Lastly, the role and importance of micro, small and medium enterprises should be enhanced. Moreover, the possibility of creating jobs for the unskilled and semi-skilled is higher in that sector.

Y G Chouksey Pune

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