Sudakshya: Free Coaching In Odisha’s Sundargarh Helps Educated Youth Find Jobs

Sundargarh: Having all the qualifications but not a job is the bane of many educated youths in Odisha. Most often, they fail to find employment due to a lack of preparation for competitive exams and interviews. All they need is the right guidance and a little push.

Sudkashya, the free coaching programme under district administration Sundargarh, aims to do exactly that and has already helped many young people in finding a job of their choice.

“After finishing my studies, I applied for various competitive exams with self-preparation for govt jobs. However, I was not well prepared to crack them. But with the free coaching programme ‘Sudakshya’ under District Administration Sundargarh, I tasted success. I have recently been appointed as the Junior Revenue Assistant at Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) Sundargarh,” said Nutap Behera.

Nutap hails from Gangajal village under the mining-affected Kutra block of Sundargarh district. His father, Yudhisthir Behera earlier worked as a security guard but stays home now due to ill health. His mother Urmila is an Anganwadi worker. Nutap has achieved his goal with coaching and mentoring support under Sudakshya, the unique skill development programme of the district.

The programme, designed by the district administration, started in February 2021 and has completed coaching three batches. With free coaching at three centres spread strategically in Sundargarh, Rourkela and Bonai, 245 candidates have secured jobs at various government and private institutions so far.

The District Mineral Foundation Sundargarh, DMF supports the Sudakshya programme while a voluntary organisation, Niyatee Foundation is the implementation partner.

“My son was a bright student from the start. He dreamt of securing a good job. Now, his aspirations have been fulfilled with the government’s Sudakshya programme. This development has improved the financial condition of our family. We are grateful to the state government and the district administration Sundargarh,” said Nutap’s mother, Urmila Behera.

Nutap passed the matric exam with first division. After graduating in commerce, he opted for an MBA. On getting to know about free coaching under Sudakshya, he enrolled himself in the first batch at Sundargarh centre. After taking coaching there, he passed the Odisha Subordinate Staff Selection Commission (OSSSC) examination and got a job at ITDA in Sundargarh. “In the coming days, I will prepare myself and work for a better opportunity,” he informed.

“I am still in touch with the Sudakshya centre. I take the teachers’ guidance when needed. The ‘Sudakshya’ app helps me in further preparation. Sudakshya is playing a significant role towards career advancement of many more candidates like me,” he added.

The ‘Sudakshya’ initiative has been started by the district administration Sundargarh to provide free job oriented coaching for +2 & +3 pass educated youth in the district. The programme entails coaching for banking and insurance, staff selection, railways, army, air force, navy, Odisha police, and paramilitary forces etc.

Candidates are trained to crack various competitive exams with coaching on subjects like mathematics and reasoning, general knowledge, computers, personality development, communication skills, etc.

Besides, regular weekly tests and mock interviews are held. Textbooks and previous question papers are provided for students to prepare for different exams. Moreover, aspirants of police, armed and paramilitary forces are trained accordingly for the physical ability test.

Candidates from the mining-affected blocks like Koida, Rajgangpur, Kutra, Lahunipada, Hemgir and Kuarmunda, those from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and BPL card holder families are prioritised during enrolment to the Sudakshya programme.

Along with free coaching, the candidates are also provided free food and accommodation, uniform, study materials and 24×7 internet facility with an e-Library. As a result, educated youngsters from poor, tribal and middle-class families in the district have been able to augment their skills and crack jobs in various government and private organizations.