Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government will put the best resources available towards training the winners of India Skills Competition for the World Skills Competition, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said here on Saturday.
Felicitating the 59 students who excelled at the India Skills Competition-2021 held in New Delhi in January this year, he said, “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.”
He further said, “We have kept the goal of 2-3-4, bringing 2 golds, 3 silvers and 4 bronzes for the country from the youth of Odisha at WSC, Shanghai.”
Wishing best for the competitors at WSC, Patnaik said that from now onwards, all of them should have ‘Shanghai on mind and India in heart as they work towards making this dream a reality.
The Chief Minister said in standing with the State Government’s commitment towards promoting girls in technical education, girls have brought the state national honours in areas that are traditionally male-dominated.
“Odisha worked for a time when people would ask our boys, and girls whether they are just skilled or skilled-in-Odisha,” he said.
“We have made skilling aspirational for the youth and it is at the core of all that we do in the area of skilling,” he said, adding that “the World Skill Centre in Bhubaneswar, set up with ITEES Singapore as the knowledge partner, stands as a towering testament of our commitment towards the youth of Odisha.”
These winners will go through the gruelling preparations for the World Skills Competition scheduled to be held in Shanghai, China in October 2022.
The Chief Minister announced the enhancement of cash incentives for the Biju Patnaik Dakhyata Award for the winners of the World Skills Competition (WSC).
He announced that from this edition onwards, the gold medal winner in the World Skill Competitions will get an award of Rs 1 crore, while the silver medallist will get Rs 50 lakh and the bronze medallist will get Rs 25 lakh.
The institution which nurtures the gold medal winner will get Rs 5 crore for setting up of the Biju Patnaik Centre of Excellence, said Patnaik.
He congratulated all the winners, their parents, their coaches, institutions and industry partners for this great achievement. He also thanked the National Skill Development Corporation for the support.
Chairman of Odisha Skills Development Authority (OSDA) Subrato Bagchi said the Chief Minister has done for Hockey, and the same will be achieved in skills too.
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’.
Principal Secretary Hemant Sharma gave the welcome address and CEO, OSDA G. Reghu offered the vote of thanks.
The Chief Minister also felicitated Santosh Ojha, a gold medallist in cabinet making, Sona Behera, gold winner in Painting, Swati Kumari and Nausin Nigar gold medallists in Robotic system Integration.
They received certificates and cash awards. Santosh, G. Labanya and Naushin shared their experiences of how they were driven to excel in skills. They appreciated the motivation
