Union Minister for Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan emphasized the need for a skilled and competent workforce to drive India’s development journey in the 21st century. He made these remarks on Tuesday during the inauguration of the first Skill India Center (SIC) in Sambalpur, Odisha.

In his speech, Pradhan highlighted that new-age and future skills are expensive in global markets, so the government seeks to democratize access to quality education and establish a level playing field for aspiring youth. Introducing low-cost courses in the SIC will empower many young people and make them part of the evolving job market.

The Skill India Center aims to equip most young people with employable skills in demand-driven trades, creating an industry-ready workforce, encouraging entrepreneurship, and strengthening the skilling ecosystem. The center will train the youth in areas that are high in demand, such as Media and Entertainment, Leather, Tourism & Hospitality, and IT-ITeS.

Pradhan also stated that by spearheading the skill training programs in new-age job roles, the government would upgrade the ‘Amrit Peedhi’ skills set in demand-driven industries. The SIC aims to empower over 1200 students.

Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary at the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), and Ved Mani Tiwari, CEO of NSDC and MD of NSDC International, attended the inauguration ceremony, according to a press release issued by the NSDC.