Shadrach, a senior official of the IDRC, said: 'The skill development has four areas - soft skill, management skill, private and public service and computer training.'

Also as part of the Bharat Nirman (Building India) programme, India is setting up over 100,000 tele-centres to facilitate information to people about several government schemes and opportunities.

'These centres will be utilized to help rural people to develop employable skills,' Pillai said.

They will be empowered in areas like agriculture, fisheries, handicrafts and other vocational skills which are source of income for people in their own region. There will be hundreds of disciplines. 'It will educate and empower them. Education will lead to better livelihood and here we all will feel happy,' he said.

The IGNOU is the world's largest open university with a student enrolment of at least 2.5 million.