In India, only 4.69 percent of the workforce has formal vocational skills compared to 60 to 90 percent of the workforce in developed countries.

India is on the threshold of major reforms and is poised to become the third-largest economy of the world by 2030. The country is, today, one of the youngest nations in the world with more than 62 per cent of the population in the working age group of 15-59 years, and more than 54 per cent of the total population is below 25 years of age.

However, current statistics show that only 2% of the total employable population in India has completed skills development training.

To change this, many NGOs and social organizations are working hard to upskill the youth and make them employable in some sectors of the economy. 

Lakshyam 

The NGO Lakshyam aims to provide technical education and skill development lessons for children residing in slums and backward areas. It has been empowering women in marginalized communities, enabling them with professional and vocational training that helps them with employment opportunities. 

The NGO's efforts are directed towards skill development programmes such as handicraft product making and stitching to empower women to make their own financial decisions. 

Since its inception, in 2012, it has impacted more than 4,000 women in over 17 states through its projects.

PanIIT India Alumni

The Nation Building arm of PanIIT India Alumni is effectively reaching out to backward and tribal areas of India, where there is a lack of facilities of education and employment opportunities. The foundation is working towards providing a self-sustainable, job-assured, loan-funded, vocational skilling model, enhancing the incomes and livelihood of the underprivileged. 

It teaches technical skills for job roles, including nursing, construction service (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing trades), manufacturing (welding, fitting, and assembly), logistics, textiles, etc. The technical training is imparted using the latest technology to make them financially secure and independent. 

Its short-term skill training models have helped these youth to get 100 percent assured placement in reputed blue-collar jobs. It has trained over 18,000 youths and has impacted nearly one lakh lives so far.

Hand in Hand Foundation

Hand in Hand India is a non-profit that is focussed on women empowerment and job creation since 2004. Using an integrated approach, it works with different sections of the underserved society and has created 4.2 million jobs so far. Apart from India, the NGO is present in South Africa, Brazil, Afghanistan, Cambodia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Switzerland. 

It primarily works in the verticals of child labour elimination, job creation, skill development, healthcare, natural resource management, solid waste management, and village upliftment.

So if you are still wondering why the youth must be skilled? It is because the role of the youth in nation-building is crucial. They are problem solvers, have a positive influence on other young people and the nation, and are extremely ambitious. 

They have the ability to create an identity for themselves and move the nation forward. However, they will not be able to do this without the support of their Government and their fellow citizens.