homeeconomy NewsNITI Aayog's Arvind Virmani highlights skill development, women's participation as India's growth drivers
NITI Aayog's Arvind Virmani highlights skill development, women's participation as India's growth drivers
He underscored the need for a strategic approach to address challenges faced by married women in the workforce and advocated for policies promoting skill development not only for India but for the global market. The economist also expressed confidence in the government's commitment to fiscal discipline.
Arvind Virmani, member of NITI Aayog, in an exclusive interview with CNBC-TV18, emphasised the crucial role of skill development and women's participation in driving India's future economic growth. He underscored the need for a strategic approach to address challenges faced by married women in the workforce and advocated for policies promoting skill development not only for India but also for the global market.
Virmani highlighted a significant revelation regarding the gender gap, stating that the disparity between highly educated unmarried women and their male counterparts in India is as narrow as it is in the United States.
However, he expressed concern about the challenges faced by married women, citing the ‘20-minute rule’ and the responsibilities of childcare and elderly care. To overcome these hurdles, he suggested the provision of housing, creche facilities, and transportation in industrial areas to support working women.
"One of the findings from the research indicates the existence of a so-called ‘20-minute rule’ among working married women. Generally, they prefer not to commute for more than 20 minutes due to various reasons. The second aspect, of course, is that married women are expected to take care of children and elderly individuals, though we won't delve into all the details. One solution is to facilitate and make it feasible, either at home or in the office space, for the establishment of creches," he informed.
The economist expressed confidence in the government's commitment to fiscal discipline, expecting adherence to the glide path outlined in the 15th Finance Commission's recommendations. Virmani acknowledged the recent announcement of a new Finance Commission and expressed optimism about their alignment with the existing fiscal trajectory.
“Let me discuss the glide path provided by the 15th Finance Commission. I am quite confident that they will adhere to it. I am unaware of what that commission will propose. However, at present, based on the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission, I anticipate the government will continue along that path.”
Addressing economic trends, Virmani highlighted a strategic divestment plan for the next five years, anticipating an acceleration of divestment activities following the upcoming polls. He noted the positive impact of increased capital expenditure in the construction sector, leading to heightened investments in related industries such as cement and steel, resulting in employment generation.
Watch the video for the full interview
(Edited by : Shoma Bhattacharjee)
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