State's skill development plan gets global accclaim

BHUBANESWAR: The State was awarded the ‘Best State Rural Skill Development’ by Europe India Foundation for Excellence (EIFE) in Paris recently.

The international recognition is for achievement and contribution in consolidating efforts to skill rural youths of the State and enhancing their employability and compatibility to the industry-led growth environment.

EIFE evaluated the initiatives taken by the State and appreciated the strategy of Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS), an autonomous body of the Panchayati Raj Department, to improve and develop supportive steps for scaling skill development in the last two years.

The State has been graded on the parameters predominantly based on the status in regard to conceiving new and indigenous policies and envisaging their implementation, developing standard operating protocols for training centres and improving employment opportunities for the rural youths through progressive and innovative approach.

Recently, Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) appreciated placement-linked skill development training initiative of ORMAS and directed all other States to follow the Odisha model.

Under Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana, ORMAS has engaged Gram Rozgar Sevaks whose responsibility is to mobilise unemployed youths and counsel them for joining skill development training programme in trades of their choice.

The State received a certificate of excellence from EIFE on the occasion of Global Skill Development meet in Paris on May 23.