Bengaluru: Karnataka should aspire to become a global hub for research, innovation and skills, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said on World Youth Skills Day.
Speaking after inaugurating the celebrations at the Vidhana Soudha Banquet Hall, Shivakumar stressed that skills, along with formal education, are essential for success.
‘Practical skills more important than a degree’
“Knowledge is a hidden treasure that cannot be stolen. Power may end, but nobody can take away knowledge and skills,” Shivakumar said.
He noted that every profession has its own specialised skills, citing goldsmiths and carpenters as examples. He also recalled that the skills of prisoners were used to construct the Vidhana Soudha at a time when modern technology was not available.
Highlighting Bengaluru’s growth as a global IT hub, Shivakumar said the city has around 25 lakh IT professionals, compared with about 13 lakh IT engineers in California.
He called for Karnataka’s cities to compete globally rather than compete among themselves. “Instead of Belagavi, Hubballi and Dharwad competing with each other, Karnataka should compete with the world,” he said, referring to companies such as Tata and Mahindra as examples of global ambition.
The Deputy Chief Minister announced the ‘Yuvasetu’ (Job Bridge) initiative to directly connect young job seekers with employment opportunities offered by private-sector employers.
He also announced plans to establish an Artificial Intelligence (AI) University in Karnataka, aimed at preparing the youth for emerging technologies.
Shivakumar urged students and young people to participate in large numbers in the Bengaluru Tech Summit, scheduled to be held in November.
