Bhubaneswar: The Centre has significantly strengthened its skill development initiatives in Odisha’s Ganjam and Gajapati districts under the Skill India Mission (SIM), training thousands of youths through flagship programmes aimed at enhancing employability and meeting industry demands.
The information was shared by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Jayant Chaudhary, in the Lok Sabha on Monday.
In a written reply to a question by Brahmapur MP Dr Pradeep Kumar Panigrahy, the Minister said that the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) is implementing a host of schemes, including the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS), National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), and the Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS) through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), to equip youth with industry-relevant skills and enhance their employment prospects.
Since the inception of PMKVY until June 30, 2026, as many as 5,688 candidates in Ganjam and 2,180 in Gajapati have been trained under the scheme. Under the Jan Shikshan Sansthan programme, 9,000 people in Ganjam and 7,873 in Gajapati have received vocational training since 2018-19.
The National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme has benefited 1,511 candidates in Ganjam and 219 in Gajapati during the same period. Under the Craftsmen Training Scheme, implemented through ITIs, Ganjam recorded an enrolment of 46,796 trainees, while Gajapati registered 4,225 trainees.
To strengthen the skilling ecosystem, the Centre has expanded training infrastructure in both districts. Ganjam currently has two Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras (PMKKs), 11 PMKVY 4.0 training centres, three Jan Shikshan Sansthan centres, one NAPS establishment, and 38 government and private ITIs. Gajapati has one PMKK, three PMKVY 4.0 training centres, one JSS centre, seven NAPS establishments, and six ITIs.
The Minister said training centres are established based on local demand to ensure that skill development programmes remain aligned with industry requirements and employment opportunities.
Highlighting initiatives for the traditional handloom sector, Chaudhary said the Textile Sector Skill Council has developed National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF)-aligned courses for Kalamkari artisans, Ikat artisans, handloom weavers, jacquard weavers, textile designers, and handloom entrepreneurs. These courses are expected to benefit traditional weaving communities, including Berhampuri Patta silk weavers in Odisha.
He further informed the House that the Ministry of Textiles is implementing Samarth (Scheme for Capacity Building in the Textile Sector), a demand-driven and placement-oriented programme designed to generate employment across the textile value chain.
In the food processing sector, NCVET-recognised awarding bodies have developed 38 NSQF-aligned qualifications, 12 National Occupational Standards, and 15 micro-credentials to provide structured, industry-oriented training across various trades.
The Minister also stated that the Ministry of Minority Affairs launched the Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM-VIKAS) scheme in January 2025 to promote education, skill development, and employment opportunities for minority communities. Training under the scheme commenced during the 2025-26 financial year.
