Odisha Cabinet clears Nutana Unnata Abhilasha scheme for skill development of youths

Bhubaneswar: Aiming at upgrading skill development infrastructure, the Odisha Cabinet, headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, has given its nod to the Nutana Unnata Abhilasha (NUA) scheme with an outlay of Rs 385 crore towards training one lakh youths every year in the State during next 3 years.

The scheme will work towards addressing scarcity of skilled human resources in emerging trades by offering high-quality training, fostering industry linkages, and enhancing employability skills. It will also help to bridge the skill-gap in utilization of new-age technologies in traditional sectors like handicraft, handloom and agriculture.

To be implemented across all 30 districts in the State, skilling, reskilling, and upskilling opportunities will be provided through Skilling Institutions of the SD & TE Department like ITI and Polytechnic, Government Skilling Institutions, Educational Institutions, Clusters (MSME, Agriculture, Craft, etc)

Offerings will include fresh skilling for youths, add-on-courses for existing students, digital and e-courses for youths in higher educational institutions, employability skills for students in various institutions.

Under the scheme, credible Program Implementing Agencies comprising reputed industries and training providers, industry associations will be onboarded to deliver the skilling programmes through an enabling policy framework based on differential and incentive- based approach.

“The establishment of state-of-the-art training centres, well-equipped labs, and a strong skilling ecosystem will further facilitate strengthening the Skilled-in-Odisha brand. As envisaged in the Budget 2023-24, NUA Odisha reflects the commitment of the Government to ensure transformation of human lives through Skilling leading to economic empowerment,” the official release read.