Youth should upgrade skills to realise Viksit Bharat vision, says Sribharat
Visakhapatnam MP M. Sribharat, urged youth to upgrade their skills and drive India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation, emphasizing that a skilled workforce is vital to realising the vision of Viksit Bharat.
Addressing the Prime Minister Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana programme at the Sagarmala Auditorium here on Friday, Mr. Sribharat said India’s demographic dividend could be fully harnessed only through sustained skill development, higher aspirations, and productive employment.
He said the Centre had disbursed ₹2,400 crore in incentives to nearly 15 lakh beneficiaries across the country under the scheme. In the Visakhapatnam region, employees received ₹61.11 lakh under Part A, while the scheme extended ₹10.66 crore in incentives to employers under Part B to promote employment generation.
Explaining the scheme, Mr. Sribharat said the Centre would provide an incentive of ₹7,500 to first-time employees registered with the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) after they complete six months of continuous service, followed by an additional ₹7,500 upon completion of one year, taking the total benefit to ₹15,000. The scheme also provides incentives to employers who hire new workers, he added.
Mr. Sribharat said formal employment enables workers to access social security benefits such as Employees’ State Insurance (ESI), provident fund, and health insurance. It also improves their eligibility for housing loans, vehicle loans, and other forms of institutional credit.
Referring to labour reforms, he said the Union Government had consolidated 29 labour laws into four Labour Codes to simplify compliance and strengthen labour welfare. He expressed confidence that the Andhra Pradesh Government would ensure their effective implementation.
Noting that India was witnessing rapid economic and technological changes, Mr. Sribharat urged young professionals to focus on continuous learning rather than limiting their ambitions to securing employment. He also stressed the need to strengthen strategic sectors such as semiconductor manufacturing and energy security.
Stating that Visakhapatnam was positioning itself as a significant hub for industrial investment, Mr. Sribharat said several leading companies were creating employment opportunities in the region. He urged the youth to make the best use of these opportunities and build successful careers.
Mr. Sribharat presented appointment letters to selected candidates who had secured jobs in organisations, including GITAM Institute, Divi’s Laboratories, and Pfizer.
Visakhapatnam North MLA P. Vishnu Kumar Raju, Regional Provident Fund Commissioner-I Amar Deep Mishra, EPFO officials, industry representatives, and beneficiaries attended the programme.