Odisha Bags International Recognition For Skill Initiative

BHUBANESWAR: The effort of Panchayati Raj department of Odisha government in skill development of rural youth has been recognized, and the state has been awarded “Best State Rural Skill Development” by Europe India Foundation for Excellence recently.

The state has been awarded on the occasion of Global Skill Development Meet at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on May 23 this year.

The recognition is for the achievement and contribution in consolidating the efforts to educate the rural youth of the state and in turn increasing their employability and compatibility in the industry-led growth environment.

Panchayati Raj Department through Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS) spearheaded the programme and through cross state study the Europe India Foundation for Excellence (EIFE) evaluated the initiative taken by the state and appreciated the strategy of the state in improving and developing supportive and oriented steps for scaling the skill initiative in the last two years.

The state has been graded on the parameter predominantly based on the status about conceiving new and indigenous policies and envisaging their implementation, developing Standard Operating Protocol for training centres and improving employment opportunities for the rural youth through progressive and innovative approach.

Recently, Union Ministry of Rural Development appreciated and recognised the model of ORMAS for implementing the skill programme. It directed all other states to follow the model of Odisha in implementing the placement linked skill programme “Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana.”