Sambalpur: Union Minister for Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan Tuesday inaugurated the country’s first Skill India Centre (SIC) here. Speaking on the occasion, he said the nation requires a skilled and competent workforce to propel its development journey forward in the 21st century. He said the new-age and future skills are available at considerably higher cost in global markets. Realising this, the Centre has decided to democratize access to quality education and establish a level playing field for the aspiring youth, the Union minister said while addressing the youth at the inauguration of India’s first Skill India Centre (SIC) here.
The introduction of low-cost courses in the SIC will empower large youth and make them a part of the evolving job market. He said, “By spearheading the skill training programs in newage job roles, we will upgrade the skills set of ‘Amrit Peedhi’ in demand-driven industries and aim to empower over 1,200 students through this centre.” Pradhan also said, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of empowering youth with new-age skills, Odisha’s first Skill India Centre at Sambalpur was inaugurated today. The Skill India Centre will equip a vast majority of the young populace with employable skills in demand-driven trades, creating an industry-ready workforce, encouraging entrepreneurship and strengthening the skilling ecosystem. “It will be a catalyst of prosperity,” the minister said. The initiative is designed to build the capabilities and knowledge of ‘Yuva Shakti’ in trades that are high in demand such as Media & Entertainment, Leather, Tourism & Hospitality, and IT-ITeS. Following this event, the upcoming Skill India Centre in Odisha is scheduled to be inaugurated in Angul, Bhadrak, Dhenkanal, Talcher and Deogarh.