NEW DELHI: India's rural youth will be "capable" of employment in different countries after undergoing training under an ambitious skill development programme to be launched by the government tomorrow.

The Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojna (DDU-GKY) seeks to reposition rural India as a resource that can support the needs of the global manufacturing industry, a Rural Development Ministry official said today.

The scheme, a new version of the existing Aajeevika Skills scheme, renamed after Bharatiya Jana Sangh ideologue and BJP icon Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, will be launched by the government tomorrow on the 98th birth anniversary of Upadhyaya.

As the Prime Minister Narendra Modi is personally driving the 'Make in India' campaign to promote India as a global manufacturing hub, the Rural Development Ministry will is linking this initiative to employment opportunities for rural poor, the official said.

"The Rural Development Ministry is therefore consolidating its previous efforts in skilling programmes, under DDU-GKY, to accelerate implementation for the Prime Minister's vision while at the same time linking this initiative directly to employment opportunities for the rural poor," he said.

Explaining the details, the official said by 2020, developed countries are predicted to face a shortfall of over 57 million semi-skilled manpower while India is expected to have a surplus of 47 million.