HomeIndiaRahul Gandhi tells the story of crores of Eklavyas of India at Texas University?

Rahul Gandhi tells the story of crores of Eklavyas of India at Texas University?

Rahul Gandhi tells the story of crores of Eklavyas of India at Texas University?

September 10,2024

During the question session at Texas University, Rahul Gandhi asked a counter question whether you people have heard the story of Eklavya. There was silence on Rahul’s question. After this Rahul himself started telling. This part of the session at Texas University is very good. Rahul Gandhi said- If you want to understand what is happening in India, there are millions of Eklavya stories here every day. People with skills are being sidelined – they are not being allowed to work or flourish, and this is happening everywhere. Only by respecting skills and supporting them financially and technically will you unleash India’s potential. You cannot unleash India’s power by empowering only 1-2 percent of the population.

Rahul said- This is not interesting to me. I am very passionate about it. Let me give you an example: Some time ago, when we were in government, we discussed skill development. The gentleman appointed by Dr. Manmohan Singh ji for skill development came to meet me. He told me about his plan to build ITIs (industrial training institutes) and appoint trainers in them for plumbing, haircutting, carpentry and similar trades. As I listened, I asked him a question: If you are building these ITIs and training one million barbers, the skills are not actually in the ITIs; the skills are with the barbers themselves.

Rahul Gandhi said why not create certification centres instead of ITIs and reach out to every barber in India? You can offer a reward to every barber who gets certified. If you have one million barbers in India and each is referred to a certification centre by his peers, you can train one lakh barbers in a few months. How long will it take to train one lakh barbers? Two months? Three months? He looked at me like I was crazy because he believed the skills are in ITIs. While the skills are with barbers, plumbers and carpenters; those skills are networked. So, why are we not using it to train others?

-Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition September 9 Source: Texas University Network

He mentioned a scheme for shoemakers in Lucknow and went there. When he asked what they would do, they said they would teach him to make shoes. But he has been making shoes in Sultanpur for forty years, while he could teach others to make them. There is a fundamental mismatch about where the skills are. India does not lack skills; it lacks respect for skills. The best carpenters in the world are in India, but their skills are not respected. No one acknowledges their abilities or gives them a chance to build something significant. You cannot build industry without respecting skills.

Example of mobile
Rahul Gandhi explained his point by giving the example of mobile. Rahul said- Manufacturing does not start directly with the production of cell phones. It is a process, and if you want to manufacture you have to go higher. Many people say, ‘Oh no, we can directly make cell phones.’ However, cell phones are not manufactured in India; they are assembled here. The equipment comes from China, and those are assembled in India. China can develop those equipment or components. The reason for this is that they have a huge infrastructure that has already manufactured many different products. So you cannot avoid the basic steps.

Rahul said you need a vision for production. For example, our GST is designed against production; it rewards consumption and penalizes production. The states that produce suffer. Big monopolies have a negative impact on production. They influence policy to prevent new players from entering the market. These are some of the issues that need to be addressed if you want India to start producing. I believe India can produce without any problem. I believe India can compete with China if the country prepares itself for production and starts honing skills. States like Tamil Nadu have already demonstrated this. It is not that states have not done it; Maharashtra and Karnataka have shown some progress. Production is happening, but not at the scale and with the coordination required.

Whose loan of Rs 16 lakh crore was waived off? Taking forward the matter of small businessmen, Rahul Gandhi said that recently bank loans of Rs 16 lakh crore of only 25 people (big industrialists) have been waived off. Do you realize how many industries could have been set up with that amount? Agricultural loan waivers attract media attention, but Rs 16 lakh crore of big people were waived off without saying anything. And whose money is that? This is taxpayers’ money, coming from your pocket. Why should 25 big people get such a big free gift? Why should a single person control all ports, airports and defense contracts? When you do this, you are taking away resources from the people. Instead of having all the airports run by one business and all the ports run by another, you should have 10, 15, or 20 people running them. This monopoly leads to the destruction of economic activity.

Women’s respect: Difference between BJP and Congress explained
Rahul Gandhi said that it starts with the negative attitude that many Indian men have towards women. I don’t mean every Indian man, but the attitude of a large number of Indian men towards women is ridiculous. It starts from there and it reflects a certain way of thinking about women. You see it in the political system, the business world and everywhere. I believe in women empowerment. To make sure that women get opportunities in business, if they want to start their own business then they should be supported financially. Make it easier for women to participate.

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