As a country with so many diversities in resources including skills, Hon Prime Minister’s inspiring advice to be “Vocal for Local”, we believe is a pragmatic panacea for developing high potential centres of growth and development in each district in the country.
Furthermore, this principle can be adopted for growth and development in any sector, depending on its feasibility, creativity, originality and prospects, and above all, the assiduous Involvement of the stakeholders.
This forward-looking concept can be adopted in organised and unorganised sectors alike—be it highly mechanised or small micro-food processing units. Everything needs skill training, entrepreneurship, technology, credit, and marketing support.
The immense possibilities of such programmes are expected to substantially increase the competitiveness of local micro-enterprises in strengthening their abilities in even export potentials in operation in the unorganised segment too and also promote formalisation of the sector, and, at the same time, support farmer producer organisations (FPOs), self-help groups, and producers’ cooperatives.
Depending on the capabilities. Cluster groups can be promoted by following a simple “One Cluster One Focus” principle- a much-felt need of the hour. It’s noticed that most of the local products do not increase pollution and are healthy, And helps in the increase of longevity. It also promotes a sustainable environment and social good. As the Hon Prime Minister contemplated, it’s part of natural farming without adding any toxicity to the soil or food we consume. Moreover, it would enhance under the “Be Vocal for Local “concept, primarily each district has to concentrate on producing one new product along with the existing line of products. There lies the success of this veritable concept. Hence, it is requested that the prime centres of academic excellence like yours could quick start incubation and facilitation centres throughout the country to achieve the above objectives.
Indeed, it demands urgency and awareness required to help our local industries to accelerate development. Special purpose vehicle mode could be mooted for the materialisation of these goals. Short-run and long-run goals may be fixed in this regard.
It also anticipates logical and consistent collaboration between Academia, University and Industries, and other sectors on a large scale.
Besides, Skill development Syllabus to be skill compatible and can be extended to all educational institutions to suit the objectives set by National Skills Qualification Framework that should focus on economic growth and development. It should be included in the school and college curriculum for which Hitech classrooms to be set up.
Simultaneously, New courses to be designed to suit the needs of a fast developing country. The Central Universities, IIMs, IITs, Central Research institutions could be a trailblazer in this regard. In addition, our universities have to play a proactive role in this new scenario of development
These projects have, in essence, to adhere to SDG 9 and SDG 11 of the U N and as envisioned by the Hon Prime Minister who graciously emphasises the significance of sustainability at COP26. Assuredly, Growth with sustainable development will include Social justice, environmental equity and economic feasibility.
Our Student community need to be inspired to adapt to the fast-changing technology, especially digital technology. They could be trained to be proactive to learn hands-on.
Academia should incorporate more hands-on workshops as envisaged in the NEP policies. Our universities and Research organisations can present 100 students as early as possible who are willing to go local and be vocal with hands-on workshops.
In this context, mapping natural resources in all districts is of utmost importance. A need to develop a revenue model—so that students go for internships to these production centres to learn and to get some stipend as well.
Change of Mindset regarding recruitment in (Management, ITI engineering and agriculture students)—students should be more open to blue-collared jobs, as there is more growth and better packages for hands-on jobs. In this regard, New Zealand, Australia, and Israel models could be considered in agriculture practices.
Ultimately, our goal is to increase GDP, provide productive employment to all and build an Atmanirbhar Bharath. Kindly supplement and complement these ideas with your valuable guidance and exalted position.
