Bhubaneswar, Nov 03: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha toured the World Skill Center, a prestigious advanced skill training institute established by the Government of Odisha in Bhubaneswar. Accompanied by Dr. Mandeep Kumar Bhandari, Principal Secretary to the Lt. Governor, and Sh. Saurabh Bhagat, Commissioner/Secretary, Skill Development Department, Jammu and Kashmir, the Lt. Governor had an insightful walkthrough of the facility, labs, and engaged in interactions with trainees and teachers.
During his visit, the Lt. Governor emphasized the pivotal role played by the World Skill Center in enhancing the skills of Odisha’s youth and preparing them for careers in the future. He also stressed the need to replicate the institute’s best practices and training programs in other parts of the country to provide high-quality engineering and non-engineering skill training, along with a novel approach to mentoring trainees in honing their skills.
The Lt. Governor remarked, “Our institutions need to align with industry needs, adapt to workplace changes, and bridge the skills gap. Training modules should harness technology and address the challenges related to demand and skill deficiencies, nurturing young talents and creating a workforce equipped with specialized knowledge to contribute to India’s development.”
Highlighting the importance of skill development in the era of rapid industrialization and technological advancement, he noted that a skilled workforce is crucial to provide better employment opportunities for the youth in various sectors.
The Lt. Governor also commended the efforts of the Odisha Government under the ‘Skilled in Odisha’ initiative, recognizing their commitment to skill development.
During his visit, the Lt. Governor also discussed the ongoing industrialization efforts in Jammu and Kashmir and the unique initiatives undertaken by the Union Territory Administration to establish J&K as a hub for innovation and skill development.
The event was attended by Subroto Bagchi, Chief Advisor to the Government of Odisha, Institutional Capacity Building; Alka Misra, Chairperson, Odisha Skill Development Authority, and other senior government officials from Odisha.
In a subsequent interaction, the Lt. Governor engaged with officials from Startup Odisha, discussing the reforms and progress made by the team in fostering the startup and innovation ecosystem in the state. The Startup Odisha team informed the Lt. Governor about ‘O Hub,’ a state-of-the-art incubation facility with ambitious goals to register more than 5000 startups by 2025.
Dr. Omkar Rai, Executive Chairman of Startup Odisha, presented an overview of the significant achievements and future growth plans of Startup Odisha, underscoring the state’s commitment to nurturing entrepreneurship and innovation.
