Dharmendra Pradhan to address 427 locations across 30 districts at

Nua Odisha - Dharmapad Samvaad in Odisha

 Over 2.5 lakh youth to be mobilized across 30 districts in the State covering 427
locations
 More than 10 lakh candidates across the country have been counselled under Skill
Saathi, till date

In an effort to create awareness about various programs under Skill India Mission, the Ministry
of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) is organizing “Skill Saathi Youth Conclave”
at Rail Auditorium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha on Monday. The ‘Nua Odisha- Dharmapada
Samvaad’ is an initiative by MSDE to motivate the youth of Odisha to come forward and acquire
skills based on their interest and aptitude.

Skill Saathi is a career counselling initiative of the National Skill Development Corporation, under
the aegis of MSDE, to create awareness about the Skill India Mission and guide candidates by
providing them with information on career paths and opportunities. Skill Saathis provide
information on vocational education and available market opportunities, facilitate psychometric
testing and conduct face-to-face counselling interventions to guide aspirants to make the right
choice of training and subsequent employment/ entrepreneurship.

Currently, 10 Counselling Implementing Organizations (CIO) empaneled under the ‘Skill Saathi’
initiative in Odisha, aim to mobilize candidates and organize counselling activities. All 427 blocks
have been divided among the empaneled CIOs. In the last five months, Skill Saathi has
counselled more than 10 lakh candidates across the country, guiding the youth on the course of
planning what they should adapt while planning for their career.

Odisha has been at the forefront of many path breaking initiatives by the MSDE in skilling the
youth to make them employable. The Skill Saathi model was created to impart information on
vocational education and available market opportunities to the youth. With the potential Odisha
has and with the right intent, together we can assure that Odisha soon becomes the skill capital
of India.

Key achievements of the Skill Saathi Career Counselling scheme include creation of capacity
building workshops across 29 states that have witnessed the participation of more than 450
Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras (PMKKs) and Counselling Implementing Organizations along
with hosting booths at Rozgar Melas held across the country. Skill Saathi has also partnered
with Army schools, Kendriya Vidyalaya, colleges and NGOs to create awareness among the
young brigade.

In addition, training has been conducted for 650 master trainers across states for counselling in
their region. Currently, there are 520 Counseling Implementing Organization (CIOs) empaneled
by NSDC for executing counselling sessions effectively and creatively to engage the youth. CIOs
are required to download the Skill Saathi mobile application to register the counselling session,
location and candidates ensuring validated data and transparency.

The qualitative counselling sessions aim to counsel candidates in the age group of 15 – 35 years
and steer them towards becoming ‘Empowered Drivers of Change’. The focus lies on school &
college students along with dropouts, young adults from the community, students from colleges,
polytechnic, ITI, diploma-holders, graduates, post-graduates, NEET category (Not in
Employment Education or Training) among others across India.

Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Skill Development
and Entrepreneurship, Government of India will be addressing the youth in Odisha, through
video conferencing at 427 locations, covering 30 districts in the state. An estimated 2.5 lakh
youth is estimated to be mobilized within the state for this event.