Major initiative

to connect youth with skills, technology and employment, 'Samvad' in Gorakhpur

UPSDM organises

'Samvad' in Gorakhpur; government, industry and institutions brainstorm on

skill development

Skill Development

Minister Kapil Dev Agarwal presided over prog and stressed on modern tech and

employment-based training, outstanding trainees and trainers honored in prog

Gorakhpur/Lucknow,

12 May (HS): Towards making Uttar Pradesh the Skill Capital of the

country, the government is continuously taking new steps to link skill

development with modern technology, industrial needs, and digital innovation.

In this regard, a Samvad program was organized on Tuesday at Hotel

Ramada in Gorakhpur. Organized by Uttar Pradesh Skill Development,

representatives from the government, industry, private ITI operators, and

training institutes discussed extensively about providing employment-oriented and

future-oriented training to youth.

The program was chaired by Kapil Dev Agarwal,

Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Department of Vocational

Education, Skill Development, and Entrepreneurship, Government of Uttar

Pradesh. Principal Secretary of the department, Dr. Hari Om, Mission Director

Pulkit Khare, and Joint Director Mayank Gangwar, along with private ITI

operators, training providers, and industry representatives from Gorakhpur,

Basti, and Ayodhya divisions, were present.

Addressing the program, Minister

Kapil Dev Agarwal stated that skill development institutes are a strong

foundation for a self-reliant India, and that providing youth with employable

skills, not just degrees, is the most pressing need today. He added that the

state government is preparing youth for future needs by providing them with

modern, technology-based training.

He stated that the state government, through an MoU

with Tata Technologies, has upgraded 150 government ITI's with modern

technologies, offering courses in AI, drone technology, robotics, advanced

design, and cutting-edge manufacturing. These institutions have developed

modern labs and world-class training facilities to provide youth with practical

training tailored to industry. He stated that 62 more ITI's will soon be added

to this project, further strengthening the state's technical education

infrastructure.

Minister Agarwal said that training institutes

should not be limited to just issuing certificates, but should provide youth

with skills that will enable them to meet industry needs and easily obtain

employment. He said that the government's focus is now on a

skill-to-employment model, where training is a priority along with

ensuring employment.

He also stated that the state currently has over

300 government and over 3,000 private ITI's, providing technical and vocational

training to millions of youth. Furthermore, last year, Uttar Pradesh enrolled

over one lakh youth in apprenticeships, the highest in the country. He stated

that this achievement demonstrates that Uttar Pradesh is rapidly emerging as

the Skill Capital of the country.

Principal Secretary Dr. Hariom stated that skill

development cannot be viewed simply as a curriculum or training program;

rather, it has become a strong foundation for youth's economic independence,

self-reliance, and a better future. He added that integrating skills-based

education with traditional education is the need of the hour, given rapidly

changing technology and industry requirements.

He said that the state government's objective is

not only to train youth, but also to provide them with skills that will enable

them to secure permanent employment and move forward with confidence. For this,

better coordination between training institutions and industries is essential,

so that training is fully aligned with market demands and the needs of modern

industries.

Dr. Hariom stated that the government's priority is

to provide youth with respectable employment opportunities in their own

districts and surrounding areas, so they don't have to migrate to larger cities

for employment. He added that if the right coordination of training,

technology, and industry is established, Uttar Pradesh can become the country's

largest skills hub, and its youth can showcase their talents not only

nationally but also globally.

Mission Director Pulkit Khare stated that in

accordance with the new education policy, vocational education is now being

promoted at the school level. He explained that under Project

Praveen, students in secondary and aided schools are being provided

one-hour vocational training after school, in which children choose their own

fields of interest.

He stated that over 2,500 schools in the state have

joined this project, and approximately 250,000 students have been enrolled. Following

the training, students are assessed and certified. He added that more schools

will be added to this initiative in the future.

Pulkit Khare stated that training is available in

over 900 job roles in the state, providing youth with opportunities tailored to

their interests and industry demand. He added that over 1,000 training partners

are currently operating in all 75 districts of the state. He added that the

Kaushal Dost AI chatbot, available through the UPSDM's official

website, is addressing queries from youth and training institutions. The

Kaushal Darpan platform is also analyzing future employment

opportunities based on Invest UP data, so that training can be tailored to the

districts' needs.

Additionally,

youth can receive training and certifications from home through the Skill

Disha online learning platform. He stated that training partners have

been integrated into a phased payment system to ensure placement along with

training, promoting employment-based training. He also stated that under the

Deendayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY), youth are being

provided completely free residential training, with the government providing

all the necessary accommodation, food, and training. During the program,

detailed discussions were held regarding the quality of training, modern

technologies, and employment-oriented education. Finally, Minister Kapil Dev

Agarwal honored trainees and trainers who excelled at the state and national

levels with certificates.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi