Opinion | Transformation through tech can drive jobs growth
Live MintThe potentially slowing rate of global growth and India’s continuing growth trajectory present both opportunities and challenges. Mainstreaming the application of technologies to all industries whether it is restaurants, hotels, heavy engineering, handlooms and handicrafts or logistics and transportation for things as basic as automating invoicing and payments to complex tasks like inventory control and management can not only help skill building on shop floors but also create more entrepreneurial opportunities for individuals and startups to service these needs while adding to the efficiency of operations. So for every data point around how 11 million people who may have lost their jobs last year, the contribution of the informal economy of professionals as well as the transportation sector itself accounted for 14 million economic opportunities over the same period. The economic growth in 12 of the Reserve Bank of India’s 17 non-special states beat India’s economic growth of 6.7% in fiscal 2018, but it did not open more avenues for jobs. Therefore, the affordable hospitality opportunity map for India extends far deeper from just the metros and popular tourist destinations to even the tier 2 and tier 3 cities of India including the likes of Prayagraj for Kumbh, Bareilly for overnight business trips from Delhi and Karnal for a weekend trip to meet relatives.