The presentation looks at the extant and historical perspectives and institutional mechanisms regarding Skills and related livelihoods in India. The author points to the rigid and hierarchical separation between Skilling and Education programmes and institutions, and argues that this reflects the caste-based “firewall” in Indian society demarcating education/intellectual work from skills/manual work, and prevents the development of capabilities necessary for workers in a modern, industrialized economy, and is thus a major factor holding India back from achieving its potential. The author argues for breaching this firewall through an integrated education-cum-skilling system that develops knowledge along with skills, and encourages lateral transitions to enable capacity upgradation throughout one’s career. Inculcation of a “technological temper” and promotion of the dignity of labour are also required to break down culturally embedded prejudices.

 

D. Raghunandan is currently Director, Centre for Technology & Development. He is also with the Delhi Science Forum and has also been President of the All India Peoples Science Network. Over the last three decades and more he has been closely associated with social movements of science and technology. Find out more about him here.

This presentation was a part of an event organized at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, on 27-Oct-2017.