Odisha marked a milestone in skill development with the inauguration of the state’s first Skill Centre at Paradip College.
The centre, launched under the Nua Odisha scheme, aims to bridge the gap between education and employment by equipping youth with industry-ready skills.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Industries, Skill Development and Technical Education, Sampad Chandra Swain, emphasised that today’s job market values skills over certificates. He urged students to treat the Skill Centre not merely as a classroom but as a launchpad for their careers.
In its first phase, the centre will offer a BFSI (Banking, Financial Services and Insurance) course for Account Executives, training 200 students annually. Operated by the BFSI Sector Skill Council, the centre will follow nationally recognised training standards, industry-based curriculum, and provide a placement-oriented environment.
The Skill Centre’s core objectives include skill enhancement, certification, and job placement. Minister Swain advised faculty and administrators to run the centre as a “Centre of Excellence,” ensuring strong industry linkages, regular field visits, guest lectures, internships, and employment support. He described the centre as a vital bridge between education and employment, empowering Odisha’s youth to become skilled, self-reliant, and employable.
Highlighting Odisha’s rapid industrial growth, expanding investments, and economic transformation, the Minister noted Paradip Port’s emergence as a gateway to global trade. He stressed that timely skill acquisition is essential for youth to benefit from this progress.
During the event, 13 trainees under the Nano Unicorn scheme received cheques worth Rs 1 lakh each. Paradip Municipality Chairman Basant Kumar Biswal, Additional District Magistrate Niranjan Behera, Odisha Skill Development Authority Joint Director Sanjib Pradhan, Executive Officer Abhishek Panda, and Paradip College Principal Sasmita Satapathy attended the ceremony.
