India hopes for a digital economy, but can it train 560 million young workers?
- India faces the challenge of harnessing the potential of millions of youth, in hopes of building a US$1 trillion digital economy, but failure could trigger social unrest
- Analysts warn education and training require comprehensive effort across diverse states to ensure equal opportunity
Manisha Yogi was staring at a jobless future in her Dugari village in India’s Rajasthan after finishing college, when her family decided to enrol her for a state-run skills programme in the state capital Jaipur after hearing about it at the local council.
It was a tough decision for her parents to send their daughter for a residential programme about half a day’s bus journey from home, but after completing a data entry course, Manisha has started getting interview calls from digital firms that have sprouted across India.
“I am awaiting confirmation from Paytm. If I get the opportunity, I would like to upgrade my skills further,” she said, referring to one of India’s largest private digital payments firms.
Her career path symbolises the hopes and aspirations of millions who graduate every year from villages and small towns, accounting for most of India’s youth who form the world’s largest pool of young people available to any nation.
Unlike Manisha, however, not everybody can unlock their potential.
India’s ability to nourish the ambitions of its youth and tap into its so-called demographic dividend is shaping up to be one of the biggest challenges the country is facing to retain its global reputation as the world’s tech hub and woo other firms worldwide.
Success means realising ambitions of building a US$1 trillion digital economy, but failure could imply social unrest among a wave of unemployed youth.
