Empowering India's Youth

In the rapidly evolving landscape of technology and employment, the nasscom foundation, under the leadership of Chief Executive officer (CEO) Nidhi Bhasin, stands at the forefront of efforts to equip India's youth with the skills necessary for future success. As technological advancements continue to reshape the workforce, there is a pressing need to address the skills gap and ensure that all individuals, especially those in underserved regions, have access to the opportunities technology affords.

In this interview, Nidhi Bhasin sheds light on how the nasscom foundation is harnessing technology to bridge the skills gap in tier 2 and tier 3 cities, focusing on inclusive and impactful initiatives aimed at empowering marginalised youth. With insights into the Foundation's programmes and collaborations, Bhasin discusses the role of emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in transforming skilling efforts, addressing gender disparities in technology training and the critical importance of sustainable funding and support from government initiatives. 

What role can technology play in empowering young people with the skills they need for the future workforce?

The technological revolution in the past decade has transformed the skills required in the workforce. These advancements have enhanced industry capabilities, creating a pressing need for skill development among the youth. According to the India Skill Report 2023, there is a 60-73 per cent demand-supply gap in key demanding roles. Technology is reshaping how we learn and work, utilising online learning platforms and AI-powered tools to foster creativity and overcome geographical barriers, providing flexible learning options. New-age technologies like AI and ML are reshaping the workforce. The World Economic Forum predicts that around 85 million jobs will be automated and 97 million new jobs will be created due to the growth of AI and other technologies. India has a significant opportunity to be a global leader in AI and creating AI fluency at scale is a critical step in that journey.

Skilling is one of the most critical aspects of a nation’s economic growth. At nasscom foundation, we are bridging the skilling gap through technology by focusing on inclusive and impactful initiatives. We believe that to create a significant impact, we need to reach the last mile and ensure inclusive growth. This is why we are dedicated to taking technology into rural areas, making digital skills accessible to the marginalised populations. Through our skilling initiatives, we aim to propel India, especially the tier two and three cities, into a promising era of AI fluency, empowering the young minds across the country with the right skills to thrive in the age of AI. To realise the dream of Digital India, considerable efforts must be made to make the workforce job-ready and employable.

How is nasscom foundation bridging the skill gap of India's youth in tier two and three cities through various programmes and initiatives?

Through our Skilling and Employability Programme we focus on upskilling youth giving emphasis on women, particularly from tier two and three cities, where the need is greatest. The primary beneficiaries of the programme are individuals from the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), with a significant focus on women, who make up 60 per cent of the target group. We provide training in both foundational and advanced tech skills, including Data Science, Cyber Security, IoT, Data Analytics, Python and Java Full Stack. In addition to technical training, we emphasise holistic personality development, including communication and soft skills, to make the youth future-ready and help them secure employment opportunities in tech-based organisations. The beneficiaries also gain corporate exposure through mentoring programmes and direct interaction with various organisations.

Through the programme, we have positively impacted over 4,00,000 lives through 17 skilling projects, providing courses in Foundational, Emerging and Advanced Technologies. These projects were executed across 15 states and one Union Territory, with the support of our implementation partners. The impact has been remarkable, successfully providing employment opportunities to over 7,500 aspiring youth, a significant percentage of whom are women.

Beyond skilling, we also believe the importance of including marginalised groups to become a part of the digital economy especially women. In an era where technology is rapidly transforming every aspect of our lives, it's crucial to recognise that a significant portion of the country’s population still remains untouched by these technological advancements. To bridge this gap, nasscom foundation has been working towards taking digital literacy into rural areas as we understand that to create impact on scale, we need to reach the last mile for inclusive growth. To create access to technology at the grassroots level, we launched our Aspirational Districts Programme in 45 districts across 20 states dedicated to fostering digital literacy among community members prioritising women and youth.

How can educational institutions better collaborate with organisations like nasscom foundation to prepare students for future job markets?

Educational institutions are pivotal in shaping the future workforce and their support can significantly enhance students' preparedness for the evolving job market. Since nasscom foundation collaborates with a number of colleges, they can support by sharing information about our upskilling projects to the students. Additionally, by leveraging the existing infrastructure of colleges and their resources, we can ensure that training programmes are accessible and convenient for students. For example, in our collaboration with Capgemini, we utilised college facilities to conduct our AI for Skilling project, making it easier for students to participate.

While colleges focus on academics, we complement this by integrating technology-enabled learning as well as deep tech courses, keeping students competitive in a rapidly evolving job market. Additionally, students are also equipped with employability skills, personality development, specialised soft skills and workshops following a holistic approach. Moreover, by collaborating with us, institutions can offer internships and apprenticeships with leading tech companies and startups, allowing students to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world settings and boost their employability.

Joint initiatives such as hackathons, innovation challenges and workshops can foster a culture of creativity and problem-solving among students. These activities not only enhance technical skills but also promote teamwork, critical thinking and entrepreneurship. Through these programmes, students gain valuable insights into the evolving tech landscape and develop the skills necessary to address them effectively.

We partnered with over 150 colleges last year. By working together, we have provided a comprehensive learning experience for students needed to thrive in the digital economy.

What impact do you foresee emerging technologies like AI and machine learning have on nasscom foundation’s upcoming projects?

In an era of rapid digital transformation, AI and ML are reshaping nearly every sector, including healthcare, agriculture and manufacturing. This shift is transforming the job market in both urban and rural areas. According to a Nasscom report, there is a 51.2 per cent AI talent demand-supply gap in India. And addressing this gap is essential for innovation and growth. Equipping young people with AI skills is crucial for unlocking their full potential in the digital economy, ensuring inclusive participation and bridging the current skill gap and digital divide, particularly in rural India.

We are committed to bridging this gap by offering comprehensive training programmes. These programmes empower marginalised youth to be upskilled in various emerging technologies including AI, leverage its potential to innovate, solve problems and create a more prosperous future. Our AI-focused initiatives include:
AI for Skilling initiative in collaboration with Capgemini, will train 700 aspiring youth in emerging tech fields like BFSI, Data Analytics and Web Design.

Similarly, our HexArt initiative with Hexagon offers AI, ML and robotics courses for school students and engineering graduates, building a robust talent pool, especially for women.

We have also collaborated with Bhashini, an AI tool and initiative by the Government of India, to translate digital literacy and AI content into regional languages, enhancing accessibility, especially for communities from aspirational districts.

The Cograd's AI enablement initiative revolutionises rural education by leveraging advanced AI models. The Teaching Model uses vector databases and OpenAI’s Whisper for NLP to deliver engaging, interactive recorded classes, simulating a classroom environment. The Interactive Model provides real-time assistance, answering student questions and offering explanations using text recognition tools. This initiative has addressed challenges such as limited access to teachers, resource scarcity and outdated education methods, resulting in personalised learning, automated feedback and enhanced educational resources.

Moving forward, we will continue to expand our AI-based initiatives to address the talent gap and upskill the youth, accelerating AI talent development. To ensure inclusive growth, we need to ensure that opportunities reach every remote area. These opportunities must align with India's growth trajectory. As the country evolves into a digital economy, it is crucial that digital skills, particularly those in emerging technologies like AI and ML, are accessible to all and not limited to a privileged few.

How does nasscom foundation address gender disparities in technology and digital skills training programmes

At nasscom foundation, we are dedicated to creating an inclusive tech ecosystem where women can thrive. Empowering women in technology is central to our initiatives, including our Skilling and Employability programmes, the Women Wizards Rule Tech (W2RT) Programme and the Social Innovation for Youth (SIFY) Programme.
Our Skilling and Employability programme prioritises upskilling women, who constitute 60 per cent of the participants, to integrate them into the IT sector workforce. With India ranking at 13 position in the female labour force participation among 187 countries in 2022, we address this gap by equipping marginalised women from tier two and three cities with essential skills and promoting greater employment opportunities in tech. This initiative supports long-term sustainability and impact by fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce, crucial for the tech sector's growth and innovation.

Examples of our impactful initiatives designed exclusively for women include:

Up-Skilling women engineers to enhance their employability skills initiative: Collaborating with Gen, we have successfully trained and certified 125 marginalised female engineering graduates from B.Tech /M.Tech/ BE and MCA backgrounds in cybersecurity with 60 per cent thriving in tech roles.

Collaboration with Accenture: Focused on marginalised women, this initiative has trained and certified over 1,500 young women in emerging technologies such as Java, Python and Cyber Security, facilitating employment opportunities for 900 students across various states.

e-Vidya skilling programme by Birlasoft: This programme has trained and certified over 170 young girls in skills like Java, Data Analytics and Python Programming, with 50 per cent securing employment opportunities.

The SIFY Programme has seen a rise in women-led startups, with 37 per cent of learners being women. By promoting creativity and hands-on experience with technologies like IoT, AI, ML and 3D printing, the programme empowers young women to become pioneers. Through the Innovation Spaces created under SIFY, students, particularly women, have access to state-of-the-art technologies and guidance from experienced mentors, helping them turn ideas into tangible solutions.

The Women Wizards Rule Tech (W2RT) Programme is another women-focused programme that aims to upskill women professionals in emerging technologies through a comprehensive curriculum and a collaborative industry initiative. The programme provides an in-depth understanding of seven emerging technologies such as AI, ML and Big Data Analytics. The W2RT programme has empowered 12,600 women professionals, with 60 per cent of alumni transitioning to higher-level tech roles, involving over 190 companies, 100 SMEs, 500 plus mentors and 34 role models through four cohorts.

Through these initiatives, nasscom foundation is actively working to bridge the gender gap in technology, fostering an environment where women can excel and contribute to the industry's growth and innovation.

How does nasscom foundation ensure sustainable funding for its skilling programmes and what role does the Union budget 2024-25 play in expanding these initiatives to reach more marginalised youth across India?

In this year’s budget centred on Viksit Bharat, the government identified nine key focus areas, with a strong emphasis on bridging the gap between the skill-development ecosystem and employment opportunities for the youth which aligns with nasscom foundation’s core philosophy of achieving inclusive growth. The government is offering Rs 2 trillion for skilling over 2 million youth over the next five years to enhance employment opportunities for youth and beyond. Additionally, the internship scheme to provide opportunities to 10 million youths in top 500 companies over the next five years is a welcome decision. It will not only boost employment through upskilling the youths but also potentially address the critical demand-supply mismatch across sectors. Such commitment will not only enhance employment prospects for the youth but also amplify the impact of key skilling initiatives.
Skill development, particularly in the IT sector, is a cornerstone for a sustainable and prosperous India. By focusing on employability, comprehensive training and targeted beneficiary support, initiatives like those by nasscom foundation are paving the way for a more skilled and employable workforce. To ensure sustainable funding and effective implementation of these programmes, collaboration between governments, educational institutions and private companies is essential.

nasscom foundation actively engages with these stakeholders to mobilise resources and ensure the effective utilisation of funds. By partnering with educational institutions, we leverage their infrastructure and expertise to provide accessible and high-quality skills training to students. Collaborations with private companies enable us to offer industry-relevant skills and create employment opportunities for our beneficiaries. Furthermore, support from government bodies ensures that our programs align with national priorities and reach underserved communities.
As India progresses, these skill development programmes will play a crucial role in shaping the country’s economic and social landscape. To truly harness the potential of these initiatives, active collaboration from all stakeholders is essential. By investing in skill development today, we are building a stronger, more resilient India for tomorrow.

Mayank Badhwar

BW Reporters The reporter works as Senior Correspondent with BW Businessworld