World Youth Skills Day 2024: Theme, History, Challenges, Important, NGO’s Work etc.

World Youth Skills Day is recognized on 15 July to spread global awareness about how important it is for youth to have the necessary skills. Why is it significant that we teach skills to the youth? For what reason, the government should recognize this Day? What’s the point? Why should the government spend its money on youth development?  There is only one answer: employment.

 In India, the population of rural areas is more than 60% of the total population. Most of the youth do not have relevant skills to get employed in any sector, which shows the lack of training and education of skills and hence results in higher unemployment. Moreover, the skills of individuals are mismatched unlike those of their niche, as there can be more opportunities in other sectors. For example, IT employees move to the manufacturing sector because of employment opportunities, which shows that people are willing to sacrifice their sector to get employed in another.

About World Youth Skills Day

World Youth Skills Day has been created for the development of youth worldwide.  We should celebrate this day and work with all government bodies, institutions, young people, businessmen, etc. for the youth development in India. And to overcome the hurdle of unemployment and economic barriers such as lack of access to education and infrastructure for the well-being of our future generation and social welfare. The significance of World Youth Skills Day is plugging the gap between education and unemployment so that young individuals can survive in this dynamic technology.

World Youth Skills Day 2024 History

World Youth Skills Day was recognized on 18 December 2014 when the UN General Assembly through resolution A/RES/69/145 adopted 15 July as “World Youth Skills Day”. Sri Lanka proposed this resolution due to increasing unemployment and the gap between education and skills, which affects the job workforce as well. The first World Youth Skills Day was celebrated on 15 July 2015 so that we can continue to celebrate it and highlight the importance and need of this day. On this day, the government, educational institutions, and organizations celebrated and supported youth empowerment and development to increase employment rather than unemployment.

World Youth Skills Day 2024 Theme

The theme of World Youth Skills Day is “Youth Skills for Peace and Development” which highlights that young individuals can create a better, peaceful, skills-developed world. The brain of young individuals as compared to later adults is more sharp, creative, and active which can be further enhanced through the right skills and development and hence can be used as a valuable resource in various segments. Due to skills development, underemployment, unemployment, and conflict will be reduced, and a peaceful environment will be created. Additionally, the skills of youth will aid the beneficiary by actively participating in decision-making processes and fostering creativity. Developing youth skills enables young people to:-

• Play a constructive role in addressing global challenges, promoting social harmony, and fostering sustainable economic progress. 
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills enable young people to analyze complex issues and develop innovative solutions to global challenges.
•  Communication and intercultural skills enable young people to bridge gaps and promote understanding between different groups. 
• Digital literacy and technology skills enable young people to leverage technology for the common good and participate in the global digital economy. 
• Entrepreneurial skills enable young people to create economic opportunities, fight unemployment, and drive economic growth. 
• Teaching young people conflict settlement and mediation skills directly contributes to peace efforts at local and national levels.
•  Economic empowerment through skill development can reduce inequalities and promote social cohesion, a key factor for sustaining peace.
•  Skills in sustainable practices and green technology enable youth to contribute to environmental protection and sustainable development.

Challenges Faced by Youth in Attaining Valuable Skills:

Skills Mismatch

1. One of the major problems that youth face is a mismatch of skills. There is a difference between what you study in schools, colleges, or educational institutions and what skills you need in the industry, and what you don’t from the institution is the actual basic skills required in the industry. 
2. Now let us come to the question of skills. Now that you have learned any skills, what are the probabilities that you can apply your skills in real life? Do you have any hands-on experience on projects? Is your portfolio up to date? These questions emerge when you undertake a task, yet simultaneously highlight the lack of necessary resources, underscoring the importance of internships and apprenticeships!

Limited Access to Quality Education and Training

1. Even today there is discrimination in colleges, schools, or institutions based on colour, financial stability, and parental background. Inequality in education.
2. There is also a lack of infrastructure and educational resources in the institutions, which impacts education.
3. Financial problems can also arise if one has to pursue higher studies and if one has to solve it in time, the problem of flexible timing can also arise, especially for those who have family responsibilities.
4. There is a lack of Vocational and Technical training and programs which can add benefit to young masterminds. 

Economic Unpredictability

1. Unemployment, which is caused by economic fluctuations or changes in economic activity during the business cycle, leads to numerous companies implementing cost-cutting measures, and hence individuals losing their jobs, this type of unemployment is called cyclical unemployment.
2. Maintaining a long-term or stable job has become challenging in the era of advanced technology, where artificial intelligence or automation threatens to replace human work. So, to remain consistent in this race, it is advisable to brush up on the skill set tray and simultaneously have knowledge of the latest news or trends.

Government Program for Youth Skills Development

1. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)

• Objective:  To provide industry-relevant skills training to youth to heighten their employment and livelihood prospects.
• Focus areas: Short-term training, acknowledgment of past learning, and special projects for better understanding.
• Key components:  

1. Free skill training to attract more individuals.
2. Soft skills, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy training for the betterment of future decision-making. 
3. Placement guidance to have a real-life experience. 
4. Monetary rewards for successful candidates.

• Target beneficiaries: Indian youth, particularly school/college dropouts, and unemployed individuals could greatly benefit from this program.
• Eligibility: Indian nationals aged 15–45 years.
• Implementing agency:  National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
• Funding:  Government-funded scheme
• Budget allocation: ₹12,000 crore for PMKVY 2.0 (2016-2020)
• Achievements:  Over 1.2 crore youth trained through PMKVY 1.0 and 2.0 as of 2021.

2. Deen Dayan Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY)

• Objective: Developing a life for rural area youth to be transformed into an independent and autonomous individual.
• Focus areas:  Enhancing skills and placement opportunities for rural youth. 
• Key components: 

1. Market-driven training programs for enhancing industry skills.
2. Mandatory 70% placement.
3. Post-placement support and tracking. 
4. Migration support to help those who especially migrated for the program.

• Target beneficiaries:  Those youths from poor families have to support their families for a better life.
• Eligibility: Rural youth aged 15–35 years from poor homelands.
• Implementing agency: Ministry of Rural Development.
• Funding: Centrally sponsored scheme with state contribution.
• Budget allocation: Annual budget varies; ₹1,200 crore was allocated in 2020-21.
• Achievements:  Because of this program, over 10.5 lakh candidates were trained and 6.5 lakh were placed as of 2021.

3. National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS)

• Objective: To enhance apprenticeship training and increase the active participation of apprentices.
• Focus areas: On-the-job training and theoretical instruction.
• Key components: 1. Sharing of stipend costs with employers.
• 2. Reimbursement of basic training cost to Basic Training Providers.
• Target beneficiaries: Youth seeking industrial-level training to acquire industry-relevant skills for better job opportunities.
• Eligibility: Varies based on trade/sector; generally, 14–40 years old
• Implementing agency: Directorate General of Training, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
• Funding: Central government-funded
• Budget allocation: ₹560 crore for 2020-21
• Achievements: Since its inception, over 12 lakh apprentices engaged as of 2021.

4.  National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship:-

Objective:-

This policy came into contact in 2015 as a comprehensive framework to encourage skill development and entrepreneurship in India. It aims to:

• Establish a demand-driven and quality-focused ecosystem for skills development.
• Develop skills that will fulfill the industry requirements.
• Foster sustainable livelihoods and entrepreneurship.