Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, recently addressed the need for India to refocus on manufacturing and production during his visit to the University of Texas in Dallas. Gandhi highlighted India’s potential to compete with global production giants like China if it enhances its manufacturing capabilities.
In his speech, Gandhi pointed out that while countries like the US and India are grappling with unemployment issues, China and other nations like Vietnam are thriving in the global production arena. He argued that India’s skill shortage is not the issue but rather a lack of alignment towards production.
He emphasized the necessity of integrating vocational training with the educational system to bridge the gap between business needs and educational outputs. Gandhi criticized the current education system for its “ideological capture,” which he believes undermines practical skill development.
Gandhi’s four-day trip to the US includes interactions with the Indian diaspora and meetings with US lawmakers and officials. He arrived in Dallas to a warm welcome from the Indian-American community, including senior Congress leader Sam Pitroda and Mohinder Gilzian, president of the Indian National Overseas Congress, USA.
Reflecting on historical shifts in global production, Gandhi noted that the US was once a global manufacturing hub in the mid-20th century. Production eventually moved to countries like Korea, Japan, and China, which now dominate global manufacturing.
He criticized the Western world, including America and Europe, for abandoning manufacturing, which has been largely taken over by China. Gandhi stressed that focusing on production is crucial for job creation and sustainable economic development.
According to Gandhi, the current trend of outsourcing production to countries like China and Vietnam must be reversed. He argued that India should not resign itself to being a consumer of manufactured goods but should strive to be a leading producer.
Gandhi also addressed the misconception that India lacks skilled workers. He believes the real issue is the lack of respect and recognition for skilled individuals and the need for better alignment between education and business sectors through vocational training.
He praised Indian states like Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra for demonstrating successful manufacturing practices but stressed that such efforts need to be scaled up and better coordinated to have a nationwide impact.
Gandhi concluded by expressing his confidence that India can rival China in manufacturing if it prioritizes production and values skills more effectively. He urged for a strategic shift to harness India’s potential and address unemployment and economic challenges.