Welcome to the January 2010 edition of ‘REEDS NEWS’.

Skills – Technical and Vocational, Development has started moving up on the agendas of Governments and Agencies world over which is very gratifying. This is partly attributed to the influence of Millennium Development Goals as Skill Development contributes its bit towards realization of these goals!

Skill Development provides an opportunity to India to achieve the aimed 9 percent inclusive growth during 11th Plan period that aims to reduce poverty whose ratio at the national level is estimated at 27.5 percent for the country as a whole in 2004-05, and focus on bridging the various divides that continue to fragment our society. It rightly includes ‘empowerment through education and skill development’ as an important component of its vision.

It is expected that the ageing economy phenomenon will globally create a skilled manpower shortage of approximately 56.5 million by 2020. The unprecedented opportunity for Skill Development arises from a unique 25-year window of opportunity by which time it is estimated that India could have a skilled manpower surplus of about 50 million, called India’s Demographic Dividend.

As India is on the path of economic development and the share of service sector’s contribution to the GDP is more than 50%, it is becoming imperative for all relevant stake holders to play an important role in transforming the skill development system which is currently considered as non-responsive on several counts – demand-supply mismatch, qualitative deficiency, access etc.

One of the important strategies leads to social and economic empowerment of the masses particularly for the young and rural India devoid of appropriate livelihood and where the majority employment is in informal economy, though challenging, is to bring about a paradigm change towards an integrated, inclusive, contemporary, equitably accessible, and employable Skill Development System, through a collaborative and coordinated effort.

Skill Development if converged appropriately with agriculture sector - the driver of macro-economic behavior in the Country and the concomitant social sectors - health, water and sanitation will certainly spur an equitable and inclusive growth.

Ravi K Reddy, February 25, 2010

Towards conceptualizing the idea of establishing a mechanism to address life skills empowerment, one of the REEDS mission objectives, REEDS decided to support a working conference of international level to provide a platform for shared experiences in this area and enabling institutional formation to further the cause of developing life skills and livelihood skills.


Prof. Sadananda and Dr. SK Hajela, who are on the REEDS Advisory Council and internationally acclaimed personalities in their respective fields, have consented to take part and lead the initiative named as ‘SKILLS 2010’. It is proposed to form a 3 member – 1) Prof. Sadananda; 2) Dr. SK Hajela; and 3) Ravi K Reddy, core group designated as ‘Steering Committee’ for the purpose.

 

Extracts from the speech by the President of India to the nation on the eve of 61st Republic day of India

Our target of achieving a double digit growth rate is plausible and realistic, given our impressive performance during the last decade and our resilience during the global economic downturn.

We should continue with policies that promote growth, and also take growth patterns to the bottom of the pyramid and, to those currently outside its purview.

Empowering the poor and the disadvantaged, enabling them to move up the economic ladder, to join the ranks of the prosperous, is a task that must be accomplished by all of us.

Women need to be made full and equal partners. The inclusive growth strategy, which we have chosen, can make our growth process equitable and sustainable.

Future growth in all sectors will depend on knowledge workers and skilled workforces. Furthermore, integrating and developing linkages between sectors, say agriculture and industry, will further reinforce growth. These linkages can be fortified by having connectivity at various levels.

Public-Private Partnerships and Self-Help Groups are important mechanisms for outcome-oriented action and for creating a wide network of stakeholders for growth.

REEDS welcome support and participation in any manner that suit one’s convenience. All the monitory contributions to REEDS qualify for deduction under section 80 G of the Indian Income Tax Act, 1961.

We would like to acknowledge our sincere thanks to the following, who had extended financial support to REEDS in the month January 2010:

• Mr. G Raghuram Reddy,
• Mr. K Rambhupal Reddy,
• Mr. B Satyanarayana Reddy, and
• M/s. RK Reddy & Associates

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The challenge of Livelihood Training is the next frontier we have to conquer in the fight to eradicate poverty. Changing demands from the society, shifting from being a developing nation to a developed nation , improved access to latest technologies create new livelihoods. The mobile phone expansion, the retail trade explosion, the software boom all add a variety of livelihoods not thought of even a decade ago. The growth of economy in the rural areas also increases the demand for training in livelihoods in these areas. There is an ever increasing need for fitters, plumbers, welders, operators, nurses, ward boys, old age care givers, the list can go on. All need training of a high quality and a perspective of the society’s needs.

Let us hope this orientation towards livelihood training will fill a much debated gap!



February 25, 2010