Odisha Raises Cash Incentives for Biju Patnaik Dkhyata Protsahan Award

Bhubaneswar: The cash incentives for Biju Patnaik Dkhyata Protsahan Award have been increased to Rs 1 crore for the gold medal winner in the World Skill competitions, Rs 50 lakh for the silver medallist and Rs 25 lakh for the bronze medallist, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik informed on Saturday while felicitating the winners of India Skills Competition 2021 here.

Odisha students have won 59 medals in the contest, which was held in New Delhi in January 2022. Santosh Ojha, a gold medallist in cabinet making, Sona Behera, a gold winner in Painting, Swati Kumari and Nausin Nigar gold medallists in Robotic system Integration were felicitated.

“Winning is a habit; so is excellence. I believe, our children have now formed the habit to excel, to compete with the best in the world and win.” the CM said while congratulating the winners, their parents, their coaches, institutions and industry partners and thanking National Skill Development Corporation for the support.

“These medals come from traditional skills to the latest in technology proving the range and versatility of our boys and girls. In standing with our commitment to promoting girls in technical education, girls have brought the state national honours in areas that are traditionally male-dominated,” he said.

He spoke about Odisha’s Aswath Narayan, who brought India its first-ever gold in the field of water technology in the last edition of the World Skills Competition held in Kazan in 2018.

The World Skill Centre in Bhubaneswar, set up with ITEES Singapore as the knowledge partner, stands as a towering testament to our commitment to the youth of Odisha, he added.

Odisha will put the best resources available towards training the winners as they go through the gruelling preparations for the World Skills Competition in October 2022, he said, adding the institution which nurtures the gold medal winner will get Rs 5 crore for setting up the Biju Patnaik Centre of Excellence.

“From now onwards, may all of you have ‘Shanghai on my mind, India in my heart’, as you work towards making this dream a reality,” he said.

To make the goal more challenging, the CM has set the target of 2-3-4 for the participants at WSC in Shanghai – 2 Golds, 3 Silvers and 4 Bronzes.

Chairman of Odisha Skills Development Authority Shri Subrato Bagchi said that the winners of India Skills come from the bottom-most strata of society which reflects the aspirational outlook of the entire state. “What the Chief Minister has done for Hockey, the same will be achieved in Skills too,” he added.

Minister for Skill Development and Technical Education Premananda Nayak outlined the efforts of his department for realising the dreams of Odisha in skills. He described the winners as Skill Stars of Odisha.

A short video on the role of OSDA and the Skill Ecosystem in Odisha was also screened.