New Delhi, Mar 11: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said the aspirations of India’s youth represent the nation’s “greatest capital”, underlining that their ambition to innovate and contribute meaningfully will play a decisive role in shaping the country’s future.
Addressing a post Budget webinar on Divyangjan Kaushal Yojana, Modi said the initiative reflects a growing culture of jan bhagidari (public participation), where experts, stakeholders and beneficiaries come together to suggest practical ideas for implementing the Union Budget effectively.
The Prime Minister emphasised that young people from villages, towns and cities across the country are increasingly eager to participate in nation-building through innovation and enterprise. He added that as India moves towards an innovation-driven economy, the education system must evolve to unlock the full potential of its youth.
Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Virendra Kumar said the Divyangjan Kaushal Yojana announced in the Union Budget aims to strengthen employment-linked skill development for persons with disabilities. He stressed that collaboration between the government, industry and civil society will be crucial to creating dignified job opportunities.
Experts participating in the discussion highlighted the need to align skill programmes for persons with disabilities with industry demand. They also stressed integrating such initiatives into mainstream education, STEM learning and employment networks to ensure wider participation.
The webinar discussions also focused on promoting inclusive hiring, accessible training technologies, entrepreneurship support and digital platforms. Participants noted that artificial intelligence-enabled remote work opportunities could further expand employment avenues for persons with disabilities.
Additional Secretary in the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Manmeet Kaur Nanda, said the deliberations reinforced the importance of demand-driven and accessible skilling programmes closely linked to employment outcomes.
The event, held on March 9 at the Dr Ambedkar International Centre, centred on building an industry-linked skill ecosystem with a special focus on rural areas and specialised vocational training through centres of excellence.
In a related development, another post-Budget webinar on Divyang Sahara Yojana was also organised on March 9. Experts proposed a four pillar approach aspiration, availability, affordability and awareness to expand access to assistive technologies through cooperation among the government, start-ups, academia and investors.
Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment B L Verma said the government has adopted a transformative approach towards disability inclusion by moving beyond welfare to active participation in nation-building. He added that the proposed Divyang Sahara Yojana aims to strengthen the manufacturing and distribution ecosystem for assistive technologies while positioning India as a global hub for affordable solutions.