The Bengaluru Skill Summit 2025 highlighted the critical need for inclusivity in skill development, emphasizing that it should be integral to organizational systems rather than a mere checkbox exercise.
The Bengaluru Skill Summit 2025, held from November 4 to 6 at the Lalit Ashok, brought together key figures from various sectors to discuss the importance of inclusivity in skill development. Hosted by the Department of Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood, the summit featured prominent ministers, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders.
During his keynote address, Dr. Sharanaprakash R. Patil, Karnataka’s minister for skill development, entrepreneurship, livelihood, and medical education, underscored the significance of inclusive skill development. “True progress is inclusive,” he stated, emphasizing the need for initiatives that reach rural youth, women, self-help groups, marginalized communities, persons with disabilities, and traditional artisans and craftsmen.
The following day, a panel discussion titled “Inclusive Skilling as the Next Growth Multiplier” featured experts including Dr. Gayathri Vasudevan, chief impact officer at the Sambhav Foundation; Giorgia A. Varisco, chief of YuWaah (Generation Unlimited India) at UNICEF India; Prateek Madhav, CEO and co-founder of AssisTech Foundation (ATF); and Veenu Jaichand, partner at EY. The panelists explored the dual nature of inclusivity as both a moral and economic imperative.
The discussion highlighted that increasing women’s participation in India’s workforce from 37% to 50% could significantly enhance economic growth. The panelists also addressed the exclusion of individuals with disabilities from formal employment sectors. “If we take a step to include people with disabilities, skill them, and give them an equal opportunity for employment, we are talking about a contribution of 5–7% of GDP as well,” Madhav noted.
Another panel, “Ecosystem Synergy — Driving Skills Innovation Through Collaboration,” focused on how partnerships among government, industry, academia, and social enterprises can advance skilling initiatives. Dr. Abhilasha Gaur, CEO of NASSCOM IT-ITeS SSC, spoke on the necessity of including women workers in efforts to future-proof the workforce. She also highlighted the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
The theme of inclusivity resurfaced during a subsequent panel discussion titled “Industry Voices: How Inclusion Matters for Business,” featuring Saraswathi Ramachandra, managing director of Lightcast India, and Dr. Padmini Ram, founding director of Urban Ethnographers. The panelists stressed that inclusivity should not be viewed as a checkbox exercise but rather as a fundamental aspect of organizational systems.
They argued that one-day workshops and token hiring measures are insufficient; instead, inclusion must be deeply embedded in workplace policies and culture to be effective.
The Bengaluru Skill Summit 2025 served as a vital platform for discussing the multifaceted benefits of inclusivity in skill development, reinforcing the idea that true progress requires comprehensive and sustained efforts.
Source: Original article