New Delhi: Union Minister of Education, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan officially inaugurated the nation’s first Skill India Centre (SIC) in Sambalpur, Odisha On 20th February. He was joined by Atul Kumar Tiwari, the Secretary of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), as well as Ved Mani Tiwari, the CEO of NSDC and MD of NSDC International, along with other distinguished guests.
During his address at the inauguration, Pradhan emphasized the importance of upgrading the skills of the youth, particularly in industries with high demand for talent. He expressed the goal of empowering more than 1200 students through this center by providing training in new-age job roles. Pradhan underscored the necessity of a skilled workforce for India’s development in the 21st century, highlighting the availability of modern skills at a higher cost in global markets. He stressed the need to democratize access to quality education to level the playing field for aspiring youth, mentioning the introduction of affordable courses to enable a large number of youth to enter the job market.
Pradhan also aligned this initiative with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of empowering youth with new-age skills. He emphasized that the SIC will equip young people with employable skills in demand-driven trades, thereby creating an industry-ready workforce, promoting entrepreneurship, and strengthening the skilling ecosystem.
The SIC aims to enhance the capabilities of the youth in sectors such as Media & Entertainment, Leather, Tourism & Hospitality, and IT-ITeS, providing a learning environment that combines classroom and work-based learning. Equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure and modern facilities, the center will catalyze demand for formal skills and enable youth to succeed in their respective fields. Collaborative efforts will harness demographic dividends to drive rural development, nurture local entrepreneurship, and spur socioeconomic growth.
The SIC will play a pivotal role in designing curriculum with industry experts, promoting standardization, and creating employment opportunities aligned with industry needs. The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) will designate a Center Manager to monitor the implementation of training programs and ensure adherence to quality standards.
Following the inauguration in Sambalpur, similar Skill India Centers are planned for Angul, Bhadrak, Dhenkanal, Talcher, and Deogarh in Odisha. These centers will address the specific skill needs of industries driving regional development and creating sustainable employment opportunities.
Earlier in the year, Pradhan launched the Kaushal Rath initiative, providing skill training and certification to candidates across Sambalpur, Angul, and Deogarh districts. This initiative has already trained 4000 candidates, fostering digital literacy, retail, entrepreneurial skills, and inclusive growth in the region.
The youth of Sambalpur, with their promising potential, will benefit from skill development initiatives aimed at enhancing their employability in both domestic and international markets. These initiatives will revolutionize the skilling landscape in India, offering enhanced accessibility, personalized learning experiences, and improved career guidance, enabling learners to acquire relevant skills and contribute effectively to India’s workforce development.