(MENAFN- KNN India) New Delhi, Nov 21 (KNN) Ambuja Foundation organised an event titled 'Skill Building for Viksit Bharat' at Bharat Mandapam on Thursday, bringing together government officials, sector experts and industry representatives to discuss the future of India's skill ecosystem.

Ambuja Foundation CEO Pearl Tiwari opened the event with an overview of the organisation's rural skilling initiatives and the role of the Skill and Entrepreneurship Development Institute (SEDI). A short film on SEDI's work was also showcased.

In the inaugural session, Dr. Rashmi Singh, Secretary, Department of Women and Child Development, Government of Delhi, stressed the need for coordinated action among stakeholders.

She cited the example of women moving beyond traditional activities such as“pickle, papad and powder” to demonstrate the transformative impact of skill training.

Raman Wadhwa, Deputy Director, National Rural Livelihoods Mission, underlined the importance of building capacities within rural communities through Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Cluster Level Federations (CLFs) and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs).
Speaking on the evolving nature of skill development, Col. Gunjan Chowdhary, Director, National Council of Vocational Education and Training, said skilling must progress 'from blue collar to white collar to bright collar,' reflecting transformative stage of India's education policy.

A special session by Swiss higher vocational education expert Urs Keller introduced the Dual Vocational Education and Training (dVET) model, emphasising the value of industry-linked training.

During the event, two SEDI alumni shared their training-to-employment journeys. A report tracing the growth and impact of the SEDI programme was also released.

Panel discussions highlighted investment priorities in the skill sector, the need for stronger collaboration between government, academia and industry, and strategies to strengthen India's skilling framework.

(KNN Bureau)

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