RSS Affiliate on Satya Nadella Praise Flags Informal Skilling Gaps

Spread the love

Skilling Initiatives Focus on White-collar Jobs: RSS Affiliate

By Raisina Correspondent

New Delhi, February 23: In a veiled criticism of the government, an affiliate of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) said that the skilling programme “principally focusses on white-collar jobs”.

In the backdrop of praise of Satya Nadella for the Indian human capital, the RSS affiliate lamented that workers in the informal sectors are not being mainstreamed with skilling.

“Satya Nadella’s statement that India’s human capital is its biggest asset is undeniably true, but the reality of India’s informal economy presents a paradox. More than 80 per cent of the country’s workforce is engaged in the unorganized sector, where their skills are neither formally recognized nor properly valued,” said Vrijesh Upadhyaya of the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), and RSS affiliate, in a statement on Sunday.

Nadella is the chairman and CEO of Microsoft. He along with several Indian immigrants in the US lead large corporates.

“Millions of informal workers, including construction labourers, artisans, street vendors, and domestic workers, possess immense practical skills. Yet, the absence of certification prevents them from accessing better wages and opportunities,” added Upadhyaya.

The RSS leader also said that “Nadella emphasizes India’s digital revolution and the role of AI, but these advancements have yet to reach informal workers”. “Limited access to digital tools and upskilling programs keeps them excluded from the benefits of the digital economy,” added the RSS functionary.

He also stated that “unlike their counterparts in the organized sector, informal workers lack job security, social protection, and financial stability, making them more vulnerable to technological disruptions, automation, and economic downturns”.

Billionaire Sridhar Vembu Weighs Trump Reciprocal Tariff on India

“While India’s skilling initiatives primarily focus on white-collar or technology-driven jobs, the majority of workers remain engaged in labour-intensive and low-income employment. Bridging this gap requires the recognition, certification, and enhancement of informal sector workers’ skills,” he added.

The RSS functionary stressed that “if corporate leaders truly see India’s human capital as its greatest strength, industries must take proactive steps to integrate the informal workforce into the mainstream economy”.

“Initiatives such as Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), micro-credentialing, and digital inclusion could play a crucial role in this transition. The way forward lies in leveraging AI-driven platforms to map workers’ skills and connect them with suitable opportunities,” he added.

The convenor of the BMS also stated that “a national-level certification system can help improve their employability in the formal sector. Collaboration between technology companies, the government, and organizations like the BMS is essential to develop policies that empower informal workers.”

“While Nadella’s vision aligns with India’s potential, realizing it fully requires the inclusion of the vast informal workforce in both the digital and formal economy. Otherwise, India’s immense human capital will remain an untapped resource,” added Upadhyaya.

Join the WhatsApp Channel of The Raisina Hills

Follow on Google News https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMNK2vwsw39HWAw?hl=en-IN&gl=IN&ceid=IN%3Aen