Skill India Centre: India’s First Skill Centre to Empower Odisha Youth

India’s First: Skill India Centre

The Skill India Mission was launched by India in 2015 with the aim of providing vocational training to over 400 million people in India by 2022. As part of this mission, the first Skill India Centre (SIC) was inaugurated in Sambalpur, Odisha on February 20, 2024.

Sambalpur is a prominent cultural and economic hub located in the northern region of Odisha. Historically, it was known as the ‘Land of Diamonds’ due to the prevalence of diamond mining and trade in the region. Today, Sambalpur is an emerging industrial town with the presence of large public sector units in sectors like mining, steel and aluminum manufacturing.

The SIC in Sambalpur is a significant milestone for the Skill India initiative as it aims to equip the youth with industry-relevant skills, foster entrepreneurship and strengthen the skilling ecosystem in the region. The state-of-the-art centre will offer training programs in high-demand sectors like media and entertainment, leather, tourism and hospitality, and IT-ITeS.

Objectives of the Skill India Centre

The Skill India Centre in Sambalpur has the following two key objectives:

Empowering youth with industry-relevant skills

The primary aim of the SIC is to provide skill training to youth in trades that have high industry demand. By aligning the curriculum with the evolving needs of the job market, the centre will enhance the employability of youth in regions like Sambalpur.

Fostering socio-economic growth in the region.

By nurturing skilled manpower and entrepreneurship, the SIC will generate increased employment opportunities in the region. This is expected to accelerate socio-economic prosperity in Sambalpur and its peripheral rural areas.

Training and Curriculum of Skill India Centre

The Skill India Centre in Sambalpur will offer training programs focused on the following two aspects:

Description of the training programs offered

The SIC will provide short-term skill training programs ranging from 400 to 800 hours in duration. The training methodology will involve in-class sessions, simulations, practical workshops, on-the-job training, and industry visits.

Industry sectors targeted by the centre.

In alignment with high-growth industries, the SIC will offer courses in sectors like media and entertainment, leather, tourism and hospitality, IT-ITeS, banking, retail, beauty and wellness. Training programs will be designed based on the skill gap analysis for each sector.

Infrastructure and Facilities at Skill India Centre

The Skill India Center in Sambalpur boasts of world-class infrastructure and modern amenities including:

Overview of the state-of-the-art infrastructure

The SIC features spacious classrooms equipped with the latest audio-visual equipment, well-ventilated workshops, computer labs with high-speed internet, library resources, and smart meeting rooms.

Modern facilities and technologies available at the centre.

Students can access advanced simulation tools, virtual reality setups, 3D printing, dedicated software for different trades, biometric attendance systems and other cutting-edge facilities.

Role of Skill India Centre in Regional Development

On a broader level, the Skill India Centre in Sambalpur will impact regional development through:

The centre’s impact on local employment and entrepreneurship

By nurturing a skilled workforce aligned with industry requirements, the SIC will boost local hiring and set the foundation for more investments in the region. It will also promote entrepreneurship by supporting trainees interested in setting up ventures.

Contribution to the skilling ecosystem in India.

As India’s first SIC, the centre will provide valuable insights into challenges and best practices for skill training, helping to strengthen the overall skilling ecosystem. It may serve as a model for future Skill India Centres across the country.

Future Expansion Plans

To further the mission of Skill India, more such centres are being planned across Odisha including Angul, Bhadrak, Dhenkanal, Talcher and Deogarh. By targeting key industrial sectors, these centres aim to create a talent pool of skilled professionals to meet the region’s manpower demands.

In the long run, the government envisions setting up Skill India Centres across India based on the learnings and successes of the Sambalpur SIC model. The goal is to build a robust skilling infrastructure reaching Tier 2 and 3 cities, enabling youth to acquire industry-relevant skills near their hometowns.

Challenges and Opportunities: Skill India mission

While the Skill India mission promises immense potential, some ground-level challenges need to be addressed:

Challenges faced in skill development

Inadequate training infrastructure in remote areas, lack of student awareness about skilling opportunities, shortage of qualified trainers and post-training employment linkages need to be resolved for deeper penetration of skill training.

Opportunities for growth

Fostering global partnerships, integrating emerging technologies like AI in training delivery, enabling online learning and focusing on socially relevant skills like sustainability offer immense scope for advancement of India’s skill development programs.

Final thoughts

The inauguration of the SIC in Sambalpur, the first-of-its-kind Skill India Centre, is a milestone for India’s mission to empower its youth through skills and enable them to be active contributors in the country’s growth story. By providing industry-aligned training programs, the Sambalpur centre will create new livelihood opportunities for youth in Odisha’s Sambalpur region and support the rise of new entrepreneurs as well. As more such centres come up across India, the Skill India mission is sure to gain momentum.