Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated a Skill India Centre (SIC) in Deogarh today, February 24, marking the third such centre in the state. These centres will act as hubs of practical knowledge in key sectors, including media, leather, tourism hospitality, and IT-ITeS.

In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to empower youth, the national training centre aims to integrate academic knowledge with hands-on experience through ten courses. These courses include storyboard artists, graphic designers, stitchers for goods and garments, cutters for goods and garments, helpers, barista executives, IT helpdesk assistants.

To enhance placement opportunities, the centre concentrates on refining students’ skills through industry-specific courses, creating networking avenues, and delivering training in emerging technologies, the official press release read.

While inaugurating the SIC, the minister stated that the centre unlocks the potential of young people by equipping them with future-oriented skills and fostering entrepreneurship. He emphasized the government’s commitment to skilling, re-skilling, and up-skilling the workforce to make them competent and self-reliant.

According to the press release, the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) will oversee the centre’s operations, ensuring quality standards and effective training delivery. SIC will contribute its expertise, collaborate with industry partners, and create a skilled workforce to meet the talent demand across industries.

The union education minister inaugurated the SIC in Sambalpur on February 20, followed by another inauguration in Dhenkanal on February 23. These efforts will establish Odisha as a cutting-edge skills hub, instilling confidence in youngsters who are prepared to enter the job market and pursue employment opportunities.