By IANS,
New Delhi : Stating that the balance of power was shifting to the people at large, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Friday modern information and communications tools will be universally provided at the grasstoots level to ensure social inclusion.
“There is a discernable shift in the balance of power to people all over the world,” the prime minister told the 10th edition of the India Today Conclave at the packed Darbar Hall of the Taj Palace Hotel here.
“We are moving towards providing broadband connectivity to all 250,000 panchayats so that the modern technology is harnessed for citizens’ empowerment.”
The prime minister also stressed on skill development to reap the demographic dividend where India was already boasting the largest working population in the world with half its 1.17 billion people below the age of 35.
“The focus is to create a skilling revolution in our country that touches every nook and corner,” he said, adding this should not just include the federal and state governments but also the vivil society, the corporate sector and non-profits.
The government has already launched a skill development programme and constituted a National Skill Development Corp with the mandate to impart vocational training to 500 million people by 2020.