During a recent conversation at Texas University, Rahul Gandhi reflected on the profound issue of skill recognition in India, drawing a comparison to the ancient Eklavya story. Gandhi remarked that millions of Indians with remarkable talents are being sidelined daily, deprived of opportunities to thrive. He emphasised that India’s potential could be unlocked by providing respect, financial backing, and technological support to those with skills, rather than focusing only on the top 1-2 percent of the population.

Gandhi shared a personal experience from his time in government under Dr. Manmohan Singh, where he encountered a plan to develop ITIs (Industrial Training Institutes) for trades like plumbing and carpentry. He challenged the approach, suggesting that rather than focusing on centralised institutes, India should look towards certifying those already skilled in these trades. “The skills are not in the ITIs; they are with the barbers, plumbers, and carpenters themselves,” Gandhi said, proposing that reaching out to existing tradespeople and rewarding certification would allow for rapid skill development across the nation.

In a recent encounter in Sultanpur, Gandhi met a shoemaker who had been practising his craft for forty years. The shoemaker expressed that despite his experience, society had never respected his abilities, except for his father. Gandhi highlighted that this disconnect, where skilled individuals are not acknowledged or valued, is a key obstacle to India’s growth.

Gandhi concluded that India does not suffer from a lack of skills but from a lack of respect for these skills. He asserted that some of the best craftsmen in the world are in India, but they remain underutilised due to this fundamental failure to recognise and elevate their talents.