Labour force is the foundation of national development: Dr. Mansukh Mandavia

India Must Strengthen Human Resource Quality to Sustain Rapid Industrial and Service Sector Growth

In the current economic outlook, India has witnessed rapid industrial and service sector expansion over the past few decades, but to make this growth sustainable, it is considered essential to strengthen the quality of human resources. In this context, renowned economist and social science professor Dr. Mansukh Mandavia recently presented his views at the National Development Forum. He said that “the labour force is the cornerstone of national development” and that this statement is not only theoretical but also practical. Mandavia also highlighted that if India’s population strength is coupled with proper education, health and skill training, it can make the country a leader in global competition.

Dr. Mandavia has highlighted the major challenges associated with the labour force. He points out that workers employed in the informal sector often do not receive basic amenities such as social security, minimum wage and workplace safety. Moreover, with the pace of technological change and automation, the skill gap is widening, making many young people unemployable. To address these problems, he proposed several policy measures, including expanding the National Skill Development Portal, incorporating industry‑related courses into vocational education, and implementing a public‑private partnership model to strengthen health and safety standards.

The government, taking these suggestions into account, has already launched several initiatives, such as expanding the network of training centres under the “Smart Skills Initiative” and “Skill India Mission”. Dr. Mandavia emphasised that the labour force can only be empowered through the cooperation of the private sector, academic institutions and community organisations, not just government efforts. He believes that if all these components are given the opportunity to work in a coordinated manner, productivity of workers will increase significantly and the pace of national development will accelerate. Thus, by treating the labour force as the cornerstone of national development, the need for all stakeholders to adopt a comprehensive and sustainable strategy was underscored.