Modi criticises centre for not developing skilled manpower

He said that the central government lacked the vision to harness the skills of the youth

The central government lacked the vision to harness the skills of the youth, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi said and added that had the country invested in its youth power, it could have skipped many difficulties.

"Unemployment is a big problem. On one hand, there is demand for skilled labourers and on the other hand there is lack of skilled manpower. There is no leader or government to work towards making the two ends meet," Modi said here Wednesday while addressing the National Conference on Skill Development.

"In Gujarat, we have done many things on that direction, but it would have been better had the central government done it."

The conference was organised by the Labour and Employment Department of the Gujarat government along with Confederation of Indian Industry.

Modi said development is the centre of gravity and where there is skilled manpower, development is bound to happen at that place. "Those states which will focus on skilled manpower will get more investments."

Citing Planning Commission report of 2008, he said in India only 2% of job seekers get jobs, while in Japan it is 80% and Britain 68%.