Bhubaneswar: It was a proud moment for Odisha when Bhesamati Naik of Tileimal village under Laikera block of Jharsuguda district attended the ‘At Home’ Reception hosted by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on the occasion of Independence Day.
A successful beneficiary of the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY), Naik was invited in recognition of her inspiring journey from a rural background to a stable and successful professional career. Her story highlights the impact of skill development, employment opportunities and sustained effort in helping rural youth achieve economic self-reliance.
Officials said DDU-GKY is being implemented in the state with the support of the Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS), with a focus on providing rural youth with industry-relevant skills, placement opportunities and sustainable livelihoods.
Naik underwent hospitality training under scheme in 2016 through PIA–Multicare Services, under Multicare Services India Pvt. Ltd., Bhubaneswar.
She could not pursue higher studies due to financial and family constraints and instead chose skill development as a pathway to employment and economic independence.
After completing her training, Naik began her professional career in Ooty, Tamil Nadu, with a monthly salary of Rs 6,000. Over the years, she gained experience and steadily progressed in her career. She is now working as an office attendant at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Sambalpur, earning Rs 35,000 per month, sources said.
Naik’s earnings have helped improve her family’s living conditions, strengthen financial stability and work towards a better quality of life.
Her journey from a DDU-GKY trainee to a successful professional has emerged as an example of how skill development and employment opportunities can help rural youth overcome socio-economic challenges.
Her recognition at Rashtrapati Bhavan is also being seen as a significant achievement for DDU-GKY and ORMAS in Odisha. It underscores the role of skill development programmes in creating pathways to dignified and sustainable livelihoods for young people from rural communities.
