Union Minority Affairs Minister, Smriti Irani recently launched a comprehensive skills development program for the Sikh community. The program will provide job skills training to 10,000 Sikh youths and women, and also place a focus on leadership and entrepreneurial skills. The program was created to honor the maxim, 'Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas' (“Together with all, development for all and the trust of all” ), as coined by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. It’s hoped the program will kickstart skills development across India and help people, particularly those in disadvantaged groups, move into productive and enjoyable careers.
Skills development for disadvantaged groups
“This initiative of the ministry will assist the socio-economically disadvantaged groups within the community to make space for themselves in the national growth story and will also cater to beneficiaries from other socially disadvantaged communities, which therefore promotes communal and social harmony”, the ministry said in a statement. Notably, in addition to skills development for Sikh women and youths (which includes school dropouts), the program will also cater to those interested in traditional arts and crafts. For example, Sikh artisans like Sikligars — specialist blacksmiths who craft and polish weapons — will also be able to develop skills through the program.
The value of upskilling
According to Kirat Karna, one of the three foundations of Sikhism, Sikhs should “work hard and earn an honest living”. A key way Sikhs can follow Kirat Karna and enjoy a career that has longevity (and also fulfills them) is by opting to upskill. Upskilling is a training and development process that allows employees to learn new skills that help them level-up in their careers. Digital upskilling, in particular, can empower employees to move into more challenging and lucrative roles.
“Workers that qualify for jobs that require even one digital skill can earn an average of 23 percent more than in a job that requires no digital skills” the National Skills Coalition reveals. Plus, although employers increasingly demand digital skills, they often can’t so easily find ideal candidates with the required skill sets. For example, “two-thirds of hiring managers say they have difficulty finding suitably qualified digital talent”, a recent Global Knowledge study (commissioned by Microsoft) reveals. Digital upskilling can therefore help employees impress employers and stand out in a competitive job market.
Skills development for Sikhs across India
The new skills development program falls under the "Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas" initiative, which is in turn part of the Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) Scheme, as organized through the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC). The DSGMC is a Statutory Body in India that aims to protect the welfare and aid the development of the Sikh community. As the DSGMC runs numerous well-regarded educational institutions across India, the new skills development program will be accessible to people in different areas.
“This ministry's initiative seeks to target the Sikh youth not only in Delhi but all over India as it will build and nurture the capacities of these educational and skilling institutions”, the ministry said. “The initiative thereby supports and assists the community in generation of employment and livelihood opportunities. These institutions have a proven track record in the domain of education and skill development for the welfare of Sikhs and other communities”.
So, where exactly will the program be implemented? The DSGMC runs four colleges as part of the Delhi University — the Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College, the Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College, the Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce, and the Mata Sundri College of Women. As it’s also responsible for one Industrial Training Institute and the Guru Harkishan chain of Public Schools (twelve branches in total), the program will also be on offer at these institutions.
Ultimately, the new skills development program will help India’s Sikh community move up in the world. “The approval of this initiative for the Sikh community under the PM-VIKAS scheme marks a significant milestone in the government's commitment towards the empowerment of marginalized sections from amongst the Sikh community across the nation and envisions a tangible socio-economic transformation for their families”, the ministry’s statement concluded.