Bhubaneswar: In a proud moment for Odisha, Bhesamati Naik, a resident of Tileimal village under Laikera block of Jharsuguda district and a successful candidate of the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY), was invited to attend the prestigious ‘At-Home’ Reception hosted by the President of India on the occasion of Independence Day.
Her invitation was a significant recognition of her inspiring journey from a rural background to a successful professional career and reflected the transformative impact of skill development and livelihood opportunities.
DDU-GKY is being implemented in Odisha with the support of the Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS), with a focus on skilling, placement and sustainable livelihood opportunities for rural youth. The programme has enabled numerous young people from rural communities to acquire industry-relevant skills and access employment opportunities.
Bhesamati underwent training in the Hospitality trade under DDU-GKY in 2016 through PIA – Multicare Services, under Multicare Services India Pvt. Ltd, Bhubaneswar. Due to financial and family circumstances, she was unable to pursue higher studies. She therefore opted for skill development training as a pathway towards employment and economic self-reliance. After successfully completing her training, Bhesamati began her professional career in Ooty, Tamil Nadu, with a monthly salary of ₹6,000. Over the past decade, through sustained hard work, dedication and professional experience, she progressed significantly in her career and is currently working as office attendant at IIM Sambalpur, earning Rs 35,000 per month.
Her achievements extend beyond her professional growth. Through her earnings, she has been able to support her family, improve her living conditions, achieve greater financial stability, and work towards a better quality of life. This reflects the positive impact of skill development and gainful employment on household economic well-being.
Her journey from a DDU-GKY trainee to a successful professional and recognised DDU-GKY success story and icon is an inspiration for rural youth across Odisha and the country. Her achievements demonstrate how access to skill training, employment opportunities and sustained effort can help young people overcome socio-economic challenges and move towards self-reliance.
Her invitation to the ‘At-Home’ Reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan was not only a significant milestone in the successful journey of DDU-GKY and ORMAS but also a matter of great pride for Odisha. Her story is expected to inspire more rural youth to come forward, acquire skills, pursue employment opportunities and work towards building secure and dignified livelihoods.
