Odisha Minister Calls For Extending Skill Development Programme To Higher Education

Bhubaneswar: Skill Development Minister Sampad Swain on Thursday called for extending the skilling programme to the students of higher education and establishing linkage with industries.

Speaking at a review meeting of the department, the Minister said the Skill Development Programme should not be confined to a particular category of students. It should be extended to the higher education courses and linked to Mission Shakti and industrial sector.

“Industries and companies are signing pact with the state government for absorbing the youths of Odisha in their projects. But outside persons are joining there. Because of lack of skill development, our youths are deprived of getting jobs. That is why it is imperative to link the skill development training programme to industry and higher education,” said Swain.

Usha Padhee, principal secretary of the department, detailed the ongoing projects to the minister. In order to spread the aim of the department to link the skill-development to job opportunities among the youths, it is proposed to launch Kaushal Rath, she said.

The Kaushal Rath will cover all 30 districts focusing on high schools, Ashram schools, childcare institutions, primitive vulnerable tribal groups, ITI and polytechnics. Two OSRTC buses will run on two routes covering all the districts for the purpose. The buses will be equipped with required advanced audio-visual facilities as well as experimental labs for selected trades for hands-on-experience.

She further said the local public representatives, parents and students will be invited to participate the programme. Besides, a Kaushal Bhawan is being developed on the premises of World Skill Centre in Bhubaneswar to provide hospitality training to youth especially in Culinary Science, Food and Beverages, House Keeping Services and Front Office Associate Course. The Bhawan has a capacity of skilling 310 youths annually.

Another programme, Chief Minister’s Skill Development Fellowship Programme, in line with Mahatma Gandhi National Fellowship Programme has been initiated to support the district skill development and employment
officers.

She also said a dedicated National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) cell is proposed to be established at BPUT to monitor and guide the government’s technical universities and affiliated colleges of BPUT as per the ranking mandate of NIRF.