Bhubaneswar: While Odisha provides the eco-system for service sector growth, more than 53.3 lakh persons were employed in the services sector in Odisha during 2022-23.
Vishal Dev, Principal Secretary Electronics & Information Technology, while participating in the State Consultation Workshop on Creating Enabling Ecosystem for Services in Tier 2&3 Cities here on 31 August said according to latest official data, out of the total workforce employed in the sector, 26.2 lakh (49.2%) got employment in trade, repair, hotels, and restaurants while 12.2 lakh (22.9%) got employment in the other services (includes health and education).
Similarly, 8.9 lakh (16.7%) employed in transport & allied sector, 2.4 lakh (4.5%) in real estate & IT enabled services, 1.9 lakh (3.5%) employed in public administration and 1.6 lakh (3%) in finance sector.
The growth rates for other sectors in the same period are as follows: Industry (8.7%), Agriculture and Allied (3.5%), Odisha Overall (8.5%). The national Services Sector as per the Indian Economic Survey grew at 7.6% in 2023-24 (AE).
The composition at the national level is services (55%), industry (28%), and agriculture and allied (18%).
Shri Dev pointed out that the State has strong skilled manpower, which acts as the foundation for the service sector to grow. Training ranging from two to six months in industry relevant trades National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) aligned courses are offered through empanelled providers 23,963 candidates have been trained in the last three years.
In partnership with global players like Microsoft, CISCO, Autodesk, NASSCOM etc., curetted courses are offered.
The State has collaborated with Coursera to provide 1 lakh licenses to students for more than 6000 courses in digital marketing, data analytics, blockchain and fin tech, entrepreneurship and sales, web development etc.
Launched in collaboration with Intel India, Odisha for AI is a self-learning online program which demystifies AI for people from all walks of life, AI for youth is a program complementary to ‘Odisha for AI’, officials said.
This is specially designed for school students up to the age of 18 years. One hundred selected schoolteachers have been trained by Intel India as master trainers under this program, Shri Dev said.
A new Centre of Excellence (COE) named COE on skill development –future technologies is being set up to focus on skill development, capacity building, R&D in cutting edge technologies, incubation and mentoring.
The Centre of Excellence being established as part of the O-Chip program will provide technological, financial, infrastructure and mentorship support to semiconductor design companies and startups.
Besides, a flagship initiative to accelerate the development of semiconductor design ecosystem and create an industry-ready workforce in Odisha.
Dedicated incentives are offered to companies under various policies to encourage them to train their employees. Reimbursements are offered for various industry relevant certifications, the officials said.
Incentives are being offered to companies to take interns under Electronics Policy, IT Policy, and the Semiconductor Policy.
Sudakshya, a transformative initiative of the Government of Odisha, aims to significantly boost the enrolment of female students in Government ITIs and Polytechnics.
The scheme was initiated as a pilot program in ITIs during FY 2017-18 and later extended to Government Polytechnics in 2023-24. It has evolved into a critical support system, offering free technical education to deserving female students.
Female enrolment in ITIs has risen from 6% in 2016-17 to 31.1 % in 2023-24, and in Polytechnics from 19.4% in 2022-23 to 33.3% in 2023-24. The scheme also provides financial support for studies and post-diploma placements, official data shows.