In post-Covid world, Digital India, Skill India more relevant: Rajeev Chandrasekhar | Exclusive

In an interview with Rajdeep Sardesai, Union Minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology and Skill Development Rajeev Chandrasekhar said Digital India and Skill India will be more relevant in a post-Covid world.

India Today TV Consulting Editor Rajdeep Sardesai spoke to Union Minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology and Skill Development Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who said Digital India and Skill India will be more relevant in a post-Covid world.Q: What’s the big message that the Modi government has sent through this major Cabinet expansion?For people like me, it’s a singular honour and privilege to be given an opportunity to serve. I have served for 15 years as an MP. And for the Prime Minister to reach out and give people like us an opportunity to serve in the government is a singular honour. It’s an opportunity to contribute to his vision of building a new India and an Atmanirbhar Bharat.Q: Cynics say it’s a PMO-controlled government, and all of you will be showpieces, and there’s one supreme leader...I don’t see any of those stories that you see. I think it’s clear to everybody that we’re emerging from one of the most difficult periods. Covid and its devastating effects. We have to build back our economy and momentum. A lot of hard work needs to be done. That’s what I take out of it. He’s got more soldiers to fight the battles in expanding the economy and getting opportunity and prosperity to a billion Indians.Q: Is it also an admission that you haven’t done enough?Globally, the pandemic has cost both lives and livelihoods. There is no running away from that. But what the Prime Minister intends to do, what we’re all here to do as part of his team, is to work very hard to take India back to the same growth trajectory and momentum. This is where the Prime Minister’s vision of Skilling India and Digital India is even more relevant today, not just for India but also for the world.Q: The $5 trillion economy dream still lives on?100%. If you take the cynicism out of the picture and look at it realistically, we were $2.7 trillion, and we were on track to hit the $5 trillion mark in three years. But we have had this very significant pandemic hit us. It has hit the global economy. The global economy has shrunk. It’s only on the back of massive stimulus packages now that the global economy is now beginning to pick up. Now, we have to work very hard.Q: The economy started slowing down right after demonetisation. Is it an attempt to re-fix and reset?There will also be an attempt to force a narrative.Q: These are numbers...I can quote you numbers, poetry and verse as to where our economy was pre-Covid, the impact of Covid and where our economy will be in two years.Q: Are you disputing the fact that the economy slowed down even before Covid?I don’t dispute the fact. There are multiple reasons, and to lay it on the door of one particular act is oversimplifying it. I don’t want to get into that debate today. The reason you wanted to meet me, and we’re speaking today, is what I believe are the opportunities today in Digital India and Skill India. Both have a very important part in the post-Covid growth story. And, therefore, I believe it’s a privilege and honour to be serving here.Q: In Skill India, there has been a lot of talks but much less action...Skill India is a gateway to opportunity and prosperity for the youth. For somebody to sit and say that Skill India has failed... Everybody is entitled to his opinion. I personally feel it’s a very solid platform. Yes, there is an argument that in the post-Covid world, the skills needed may be remarkably and qualitatively different from what we thought was required in 2019. Because technology is playing a bigger role in what skills the youth need today. This government is trying to create a multi-year transformation through skilling. Skilling can’t transform 400 million youngsters and give them all the skills they need to compete in the world. And I believe the government has done well.Q: In areas like Digital India, do you see the need for less government and more governance?Maximum governance is a concept that the Prime Minister introduced to ensure delivery of maximum benefits to the citizens of India, making sure the government works hard, reducing the government footprint and the government has done that. When you’re recovering from Covid, it’s all hands on deck kind of situation. I don’t see any contradiction.Q: Some believe that Ravi Shankar Prasad paid a price for the fractious relationship he had with social media giants. You believe that issue has to be taken to its logical conclusion that they have to conform to Indian laws?I don’t think there is a man, woman or child in India who wouldn’t agree with the proposition that anybody doing any work in India should conform to Indian laws. What’s so controversial about that? This is not a uniquely Indian idea. Regarding whether or not it was fractious, there is a Cabinet minister, there is an MoS, there is a full team. You need to give us time. We will study these issues and come back to the public and media.Q: The criticism is, it could lead to misuse of police powers to clamp down on free speech...Nobody can clamp down on free speech in India. It’s a guaranteed fundamental right.Q: A lot of people believe this government is short on talent, and you need people with ground experience...That’s one of the biggest myths that the government is short of talent. Also read: New faces in PM Modi's council of ministers Also read: Four new faces from Karnataka likely to enter Union Cabinet