New Delhi: Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan is spearheading a series of initiatives to transform Odisha into a new-age skills hub, a vision aligned with the “Modi Guarantee” to make India a global center for skill development.
While a meeting co-chaired by Union Minister of State for Skill Development, Shri Jayant Chaudhary, and Odisha Minister Skill Development and Technical Education, Shri Sampad Chandra Swain focused on a new Centre of Excellence (CoE) for mining, Pradhan has been a key driver of the broader skilling ecosystem in the state.
Shri Pradhan has consistently emphasized the importance of skilling, re-skilling, and up-skilling the youth to make them future-ready in Odisha. He previously served as the Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, where he launched a number of initiatives aimed at empowering the nation’s youth.
His efforts in Odisha are particularly notable. Earlier this year, Shri Pradhan inaugurated the first Skill India Centre in Sambalpur, a model that has since been replicated in other districts like Dhenkanal and Deogarh. These centers are designed to provide low-cost, demand-driven training in sectors like media, entertainment, leather, tourism, and IT, and are a strategic step towards addressing specific industry needs and creating sustainable employment.
Furthermore, Shri Pradhan laid the foundation stone for the National Skill Training Institutes (NSTI) Plus in Bhubaneswar, a mega-campus set to house institutions like the National Institute of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD) and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). This integrated campus aims to be a modern “gurukul” for emerging start-ups, an incubation center, and a hub for cultivating diverse skills, including those for Industry 4.0.
In another significant step, Shri Pradhan launched Project ODISERV in partnership with the NSDC and Bajaj Finserv. This initiative aims to equip graduates, particularly first-generation graduates, with skills for the banking, finance, and insurance sectors.
These multifaceted efforts, from establishing physical centers and modern campuses to launching targeted programs, demonstrate a comprehensive strategy to leverage the potential of Odisha’s youth, ensuring they are not only armed with relevant skills for local industries but are also prepared to excel in the global job market.