BHUBANESWAR : Odisha can offer valuable lessons to others states in strengthening skill ecosystem and Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), stated the Economic Survey 2025-26 report of the Ministry of Finance.
The report, tabled on Thursday, commended Odisha for strengthening government-run ITIs and stated that it followed a simple strategy of ‘Fix, Accelerate, Scale’ to bring change to its skill development and technical education sector.
The report highlighted that Odisha started its skill transformation with establishment of the Odisha Skill Development Authority (OSDA) in 2016. The mission of the OSDA was to ‘Skill in Odisha’ and it followed a simple strategy, ‘Fix, Accelerate, Scale’ to fix’ the ITIs, ‘scale’ the short-term training programmes and ‘accelerate’ the setting up of advanced training institutes, the report stated.
It further explained that the state converged the ongoing skill initiatives across departments, ensuring quality standards and developing market-responsive training, inclusivity and scalability. To strengthen the supply side, the state scaled up on short-term skilling programmes such as Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) in both volume and quality. Efforts were focused on improving trainee well-being at training centres, expanding outreach in rural areas and using alumni role models to raise awareness.
Establishment of world class institute the ‘World Skill Centre’ and collaborating with Singapore-based the Institute of Technical Education - Education Services (ITEES) was also key in offering advanced skill training. “The Odisha model addressed the demand slack by focusing on the perception of vocational education and ITIs.
A role model campaign using the ‘10-6-4-2’ formula focused on highlighting alumni success (10 successful alumni- six of whom are employed out of Odisha, four are women, and two are entrepreneurs), while confidence-building was done through changes in uniforms, ITI fests and through global exposure,” the report stated.
As per the report, the key elements of the ‘Odisha model’ such as image re-invention, alumni engagement and success stories are learnings that can be adapted by other states. Such campaigns can contribute to changing public perception, boosting enrolment, and improving employer connections. At the district level, local ITIs and polytechnics should be revamped in a substantial, visible and aspirational manner, making them attractive for students, the survey report suggested.