Mangaluru: Union Minister of State for Skill Development Anant Kumar Hegde on Tuesday said that the Centre is committed to exploiting knowledge-based human resources than labour-based ones that can make the country a superpower in a decade.

He was speaking at the annual meeting of the directors of Rural Development and Self Employment Training (India) Institutes from across the country at Dharmasthala near here. Mr. Hegde said that one has to change the way one thinks with the fast pace of development in science and technology. Every year, nearly 2 crore youths were in search of employment and only when knowledge-based economy is put in place, the country can prosper.

The Minister said that regardless of one’s degree, one’s skills are recognised and noted, one should be proud of one’s profession.

The government provides skill certificates to candidates based on their skill and capability, Mr. Hegde said and added that the government would completely support the activities of RUDSET and RSETIs. Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari D. Veerendra Heggade and Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel and others were present.