Education helps shed differences: M Venkaiah Naidu

Vijayawada: Union Minister for Urban Development M Venkaiah Naidu said education is key to shedding differences among people on the lines of religion, caste and creed.

Venkaiah Naidu was speaking at the Swarna Bharat Trust at Atkur in Krishna district on Wednesday. “Ours is an independent nation and we all are one,’’ he pointed out.

He said the country is home to many religions. “We are heirs of great culture and unfortunately sometimes we see people fighting in the name of caste, creed and religion. All these ills can be overcome through education,” he said.

Venkaiah called upon people to show respect for the country and its Constitution and make the nation strong. Union Minister felt that self-employment is the best source of employment in the country and added that there should be a movement in the country for self-employment.

If one has path drawn to achieve big he/she will grow and become strong, he said and added that these achievers could show direction to others. Observing that India is a young nation with 65 percent of population below 35 years of age, Naidu said that the country must prepare itself to achieve demographic dividends through skill development.

Realising the importance of skill development in youth for nation building, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given top priority for training youth, women and poor so that they can earn their livelihood and be independent, the Union Minister said.

He called upon the corporate organisations and NGOs to participate in the skill development programmes and become partners in development. The government cannot do everything hence private participation was necessary, he felt.

Lauding the efforts of Swarna Bharat Trust in providing skill training and also providing employment opportunities to youth after the successful completion of training, Venkaiah said that a shining and successful experiment is going on in Swarna Bharat Trust. He said the trust so far trained 1,843 youth of which 1,321 were given employment thus achieving 72 per cent success.

The Trust offers training in plumbing, electrical work, air conditioning, refrigeration, automobile repair & driving, welding, rebar bending, motor rewinding, carpentry, welding, pump sets & motor rewinding, construction technology and false ceiling courses.

He complimented Swarna Bharat Trust, Indian Bank, Andhra Bank & KL University for coming together with such good training programmes for rural youth. The Union Minister gave away certificates to 84 candidates on their successful completion of training. Health Minister Dr Kamineni Srinivas was also present.