NEW DELHI: Batting for giving respectability to the skills programme, HRD Minister Smriti Irani today said the initiative can become successful only when a labourer receives dignity of work.
The minister, a TV actress-turned-politician, said she had no inhibition washing dishes at a hotel in Mumbai 15 years back when she had set foot in the city to realise her dreams.
"As a minister, I feel proud of the fact that 15 years back, I washed utensils in a hotel in Mumbai. I have no inhibitions about this because this country is all about aspirations.
"Providing choices to citizens should be our goal," Irani said at a state education ministers' conference here.
At the meet, she highlighted the benefits which the skilling programme will bring to this country and how it would help the government fulfil its objectives in the 'Make in India' campaign. Also, the credit framework of the programme was discussed with the education ministers.
"We have to ensure dignity of labour. A labourer earns dignity when society gives respect to his profession. This credit framework establishes that if you want to become a plumber, carpenter or mechanic, there is no shame in it," she said.