Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said departments of the Central Government and NDA state governments are working hard to offer employment to youth, and the State Government of Gujarat had provided jobs to more than 1.5 lakh youth in the last five years, while another 18 lakh got jobs through Employment Exchanges.

Addressing the second Rozgar Mela of the Gujarat Government via a video message, the prime minister said the Gujarat government was following a recruitment calendar to conclude the recruitment process. Preparations are underway to give jobs to more than 25,000 youth in the state government this year. The whole process has been made transparent through technology-led digital platforms, mobile apps and web portals, he said.

The prime minister said the Government followed a strategy for Direct and Indirect Employment Generation with a focus on boosting employment through infrastructure and development projects, manufacturing, and creating an environment in the country for self-employment. He said the government is focused on providing guaranteed financial assistance and skill development for the youth according to the changing nature of jobs.

 “When the wheels of development are in motion, employment opportunities are created in every sector,” the prime minister said. He underlined that millions of crores of rupees are being spent on development projects in infrastructure, information technology as well as other sectors in the country. Projects worth Rs 1.25 lakh crore are currently underway only in Gujarat itself and a provision of Rs 10 lakh crore has been made for infrastructure in this year’s Union Budget.

“Experts from all over the world believe that India will become the biggest manufacturing hub in the coming years,” Modi said. He underlined that it is the youth who will lead this revolution in India. He noted that a railway engine factory is being constructed in Dahod, Gujarat with an investment of Rs 20000 crores and is also going to be a huge hub of semiconductors in the near future.

 “The holistic approach of development by the government is generating employment on a large scale,” the prime minister said. He noted the important changes at the policy level that have prepared an ecosystem where startups are getting promoted. He informed that more than 90,000 startups are working in the country today, and as a result, new employment opportunities are being created while also motivating millions of youth towards self-employment.

 “The government is giving financial assistance without bank guarantee,” the prime minister said, as he highlighted the Mudra Yojana and the Standup India scheme. He further added that millions of women are standing firmly on their feet by joining the self-help group and the government is also giving financial assistance of hundreds of crores.

Emphasizing the need to prepare large-scale skilled manpower for the country, the prime minister pointed out that India has the potential to become the third major economy in the world. Underlining the government’s endeavor that every section of society should benefit from skill development, he said that it will provide equal opportunity to Dalits, the underprivileged, tribals and women of every region.

“Priority is being given to the skill development of the youth,” the prime minister remarked as he informed that 30 Skill India International Centers will be developed under the PM Kaushal Vikas Yojna where youth will be trained through New Age Technology. He also touched upon PM Vishwakarma Yojana where small artisans will be trained thereby providing a gateway for people associated with small businesses in accessing the world market.

Underlining the role of Industrial Training Institutes in constantly preparing the youth for the changing nature of jobs, the prime minister said that there has been a steady increase in the number of ITIs and their seats in Gujarat. “Training is being provided for different skills in about two lakh seats of about 600 ITIs in Gujarat,” Modi said, as he expressed delight that the placement of ITIs in Gujarat has been very good.

The prime minister pointed out that the government is focused on developing every opportunity for the employment generation which was neglected in the decades after the Independence. He said the Union Budget had announced the development of 50 new tourist centers and a  Unity Mall in every state along the lines of the Unity Mall in Kevadia-Aata Nagar where unique products across the country will be promoted. He said that a provision has been made for the appointment of about 40,000 teachers in Eklavya School.

The prime minister asked the youth to make the most out of various online courses on Karmayogi Bharat online platform and said, “Wherever your posting is, pay special attention to improving your skill. It is our endeavor that every government employee gets better training.”