ABSTRACT
Farming is adopting machines and agricultural equipment and some early signs of displacement of unskilled wage labour out of agriculture have become visible. The production possibility curve of our economy will only expand through a concerted effort at diversification and development of livelihoods though effective skilling at all levels. Innovative technology enabled financing, in time, through community collectives after adequate skilling opportunities, will go a long way towards developing enterprises of the poor. The Skills Ministry was set up in 2014 with a strong thrust to standardize norms as per global and local demand for jobs. Implementation of skills programmes centrally is now rightly giving way to greater roles for the States and districts with commonly agreed norms and accreditation standards. The challenge of unemployed and unemployable graduates or secondary school dropouts remains the biggest employment/income crisis. India’s Digital Public Infrastructure and its role in making direct benefit transfers and other payments possible, into Adhaar-linked, verified bank accounts.
