Dharmendra Pradhan To Inaugurate Filigree Skill Facility Centre In Cuttack Today

Bhubaneswar: In a significant step towards employment generation in Odisha, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan will inaugurate a skill-cum-common facility centre for filigree craftsman at Cuttack on Saturday.

The Union Minister will also launch Urja Ganga Gas Pipeline Skilling Project, where in formal certification and training will be imparted to semi-skilled and unskilled workers engaged in Jagdishpur – Haldia and Bokaro – Dhamra natural gas pipeline (JHBDPL) project being laid in the state.

“The projects are being launched on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Utkal Gourab Madhusudan Das, who laid the foundation of industrialisation in Odisha. They have been conceptualised as a mark of respect for him to carry forward his legacy, announced GAIL Director (Projects) Dr Ashutosh Karnatak and Head of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendra Aatish Shrivastava at a press conference on Friday.

With the establishment of the skill-cum-common facility centre for filigree craftsman at Cuttack, the artisans will not only get an opportunity to upgrade their skills but also get a window to connect with the global expo market. If any worker wants to take industry-level training, he can do so at centre with latest technology. Training on marketing strategies, including e-commerce, will also be provided so that the artisans can become self-sustained and engage directly with buyers, said Dr Ashutosh Karnatak.

GAIL (India) Limited, which is implementing the JHBDPL, has entered into a quadripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), Skill Development Institute-Bhubaneswar and Labour Net-Bengaluru for Skill Development Activities and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for generating employment in various aspects of the pipeline project, popularly known as Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga.

Dr Karnatak further said that RPL will recognise prior experience of workers and they will get formal certificates which will help boost their income. Safety training will also be an integral part of their training and around 1,400 people will be covered initially, he added.

This skilling project, being rolled out in Jajpur and Bhubaneswar in Odisha, will offer training to unskilled youths in various trades such as Welder, Fitter, Electrician and Earth Moving Equipment Operator, among others.