Bhubaneswar: In a move aimed at strengthening technical education for girls, the Odisha government’s Skill Development and Technical Education (SDTE) Department has formally extended support to the Udaiti Foundation to conduct a comprehensive diagnostic study of the Sudakshya Scheme and implement a pilot program to improve employment opportunities for female trainees.
The initiative, detailed in a government directive issued on January 27, 2026, seeks to evaluate the performance of the Sudakshya Scheme—launched in 2018 to boost female enrollment in ITIs, polytechnics, and other vocational training institutions. While enrollment rates have improved over the years, only a fraction of girls have successfully transitioned to formal employment, highlighting gaps between training and job placement.
Under this collaboration, the Udaiti Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation working to enhance women’s workforce participation, will first conduct a six-month diagnostic study to examine enrollment patterns, retention rates, placement outcomes, and systemic challenges in the implementation of the scheme. The study will include field visits, interviews with students, trainers, and industry partners, and analysis of institutional data to provide evidence-based recommendations for policy improvements.
In addition to the study, the Foundation will pilot an employment initiative using a flexi-staffing model, where women will be formally employed by staffing companies and deployed in client organisations. The model ensures statutory benefits such as Provident Fund, Employees’ State Insurance, and paid leave, while offering flexibility to support a smooth transition from informal to formal employment.
While the government will facilitate access to institutions and relevant data, the Udaiti Foundation will bear the costs of the study and pilot. Ruchika Mohanty, Programme Associate at Udaiti Foundation, will serve as the nodal contact for coordination.
The study and pilot program are scheduled from December 2025 to May 2026, culminating in a state-level event where findings and recommendations will be presented.
