Bhubaneswar, July 15: The World Youth Skills Day was celebrated across the state today with focus on attracting more girls and disabled students into technical education and skill training. Most Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and polytechnics had invited parents from the adjoining areas to visit the institutes with their daughters.
Many activities were also lined up at the institutes to mark the occasion as directed by the technical education department.
More than 30 senior officers were deputed to various institutions.
The celebration of the World Youth Skills Day kicked off in all ITIs and polytechnics with a plantation drive with a slogan of "Each One, Plant One" and proceeded with an inter-trade skill exhibition, interaction with role models and a felicitation programme for successful students.
Some institutes organised marathons to mark the occasion.
Many institutions conducted programmes on entrepreneurship development and motivational talks by the guests during the day. "I loved today's celebrations. It was informative as well as entertaining. The "cultural-o-skill evening" was much fun," said Minakshi Jena, a polytechnic student.
"The technical institutions must enrol more and more students, especially girls, with a view to empower them with better job prospects," said technical education minister Sanjay Das Burma while attending a programme in Cuttack.
All the principals of government polytechnics and ITIs have been advised by state technical education secretary L.N. Gupta to chalk out a ten-point charter to achieve excellence.
Gupta attended programmes in Koraput and Rayagada districts. Similarly, state employment director G. Rajesh attended programmes in Kalahandi and Balangir, while state technical education and training director Balwant Singh attended programmes in Malkanagiri and Nabarangpur.
The polytechnics and ITIs have been instructed to ensure clean and green campus for a environment with positive energy and state-of-the-art infrastructure. The institutes have also been instructed for optimal use of their infrastructure and the Internet.
"The thrust will be on apprenticeship and hands-on exposure through industry tie-ups and also on improving the ratio and quality of placements," said a senior state government official.
The institutes have been directed to celebrate the success of role models by designing a "Hall of Fame" and convocations. Odisha Skill Development Authority chairman Subroto Bagchi yesterday made a presentation before all secretaries showing his roadmap to train eight lakh youths in three years. Bagchi sought help of all departments to successfully execute his blueprint.
