PM Modi highlights World Bank chief Ajay Banga's praise for India model
New Delhi, April 10
The Office of the Prime Minister of India on Friday highlighted anreport on World Bank President Ajay Banga backing job creation as the core of development strategy and citing India's cooperative model as an example of scalable growth.
The story shared by PMO India on the social media platform X underscores the importance of employment-led growth and the global recognition of India's development approach.
Banga emphasised that development efforts must move beyond individual projects and instead focus on broader outcomes such as job creation and economic opportunity.
"Development isn't a charity. It's a strategy," he said, adding that employment generation is central to sustaining growth and stability.
Speaking ahead of the World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings in Washington, Banga also flagged a looming demographic challenge, noting that around 1.2 billion young people are expected to enter the workforce over the next 15 years, while job creation may not keep pace.
He outlined a three-pronged approach to boosting employment, including investment in infrastructure, business-friendly governance reforms and improved access to finance.
He also identified key sectors such as infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing and tourism as major drivers of job creation.
Drawing from his own experience, Banga pointed to India's dairy cooperative model as a successful example of how technology and organisation can help improve rural livelihoods and expand market access for small producers.
"I grew up in India," he said. The WB chief said that cooperative structures, like those in the dairy sector, helped small producers access better markets and pricing.
He also warned that failure to generate adequate employment opportunities could lead to rising migration pressures and social instability globally.
"Imagine the impact... if 800 million people... are not able to get hope and dignity," he said, linking job shortages to broader global challenges.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Recognition is good, but the warning about 1.2 billion young people entering the workforce is terrifying. Are we creating enough jobs? The infrastructure push is visible, but what about quality jobs for graduates? The gap between skill development and industry needs is still huge.
As someone from a small town, I've seen how dairy cooperatives changed lives. My uncle's income doubled after joining one. If we can replicate this success in fisheries, poultry, and organic farming, rural India will truly transform. Technology + organization is the key mantra.
Interesting perspective from an Indian leading a global institution. The demographic challenge he mentions isn't just India's problem - it's global. If developing nations don't create jobs, migration pressures will affect everyone. Need more practical solutions like he's suggesting.
While I appreciate the praise, we must be careful not to become complacent. The cooperative model works well in dairy, but scaling it requires addressing corruption at local levels and ensuring fair prices for small producers. The government needs to strengthen these institutions, not just celebrate them.
Tourism and healthcare - two sectors with massive untapped potential for job creation! Imagine if every district had proper medical tourism facilities and heritage sites were developed properly. We have the resources, just need execution. Banga's three-pronged approach makes sense.
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