Skill development needs to recognize traditional skills for economic growth of state: Dharmendra Pradhan

New Delhi, May 8 (KNN) All traditional skills need to be formally recognized under Skill Development and proper training needs to be imparted in these work-of-art translating into the further economic growth of the State and its people said Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Addressing the ‘Odisha Skill Conclave’, Pradhan expressed, “Skill development is a national dialogue and there have been isolated efforts to promote skill development in the State of Odisha thus far; but it is our endeavour now to join the dots and have a concrete, comprehensive and collective effort with respect to skill development.”

In line with the Prime Minister’s vision of “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas”, the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship organized Odisha Skill Conclave at Jatni near Bhubaneswar to define a roadmap to develop Odisha as a skill development & entrepreneurship hub of India.

The two-day event has gathered more than 100 experts, industry veterans, academicians and professionals from skill ecosystem to deliberate on challenges and opportunities for skill development in the state.

The galaxy of experts from national/international organizations like NALCO, Indian Oil, Reliance, ACC, Aditya Birla, International Labor Organization among others assembled at the Conclave to discuss the local complexities of the State, weaving the discussion and integrating them into the national skill ecosystem.

The sessions on day one, highlighted the key challenges and opportunities that exist in the State, identification of cluster/areas with high demand for skills based on investments, credit off-take and mapping geographical areas of economic activities.

 “India’s private sector has become extremely exploitative, they need to come out of this mind-set which has linkage to the depressed wage across industries and our focus should be on increasing employability and thus reward them appropriately for their contribution. We also need sensitive good quality counselling for the youth and their parents.” said Subroto Bagchi, Chairman, Odisha Skill Development Authority, one of the experts at the conclave.

On this occasion, Pradhan also released a study report on Skill Development & Employability on tribal in Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.  The study has been conducted by Functional Vocational Training and Research Society (FVTRS) Bangalore in association with Centre for Youth Skill Development (CYSD), Bhubaneshwar. (With PIB Inputs)