Andhra Pradesh HRD Minister Nara Lokesh recently spoke about his father Chandrababu Naidu’s long-standing vision of conducting a skill census. He described it as a powerful alternative to the often-debated caste census, aiming to shape a talent-first economy.
Lokesh reiterated Chandrababu Naidu’s statement: “I don’t believe in caste census. India must have a skill census.” He recalled the launch of the Naipunyam portal, which is designed to map and record the skillsets of citizens across the state.
According to Lokesh, this skill database will be used to connect individuals with training, job opportunities, and industry partnerships. He also stressed the need to introduce gender diversity initiatives in textbooks and curricula to build a more inclusive education system.
“As the Education Minister, I see my responsibility not just for the mind but also for the soul. Through Naipunyam, we are integrating our youth with real-world market needs,” Lokesh said. The portal allows testing, ranking, and profiling of students’ skills, offering transparency in matching talent to job demand.
Highlighting early successes, Lokesh shared that the state had already sent 18 healthcare professionals to Germany. “Soon, we’ll be able to send 50,000. These professionals come from all castes. This is the power of a skill-first approach,” he added, expressing pride in seeing his father’s vision come to life.
