CM Vishnu Deo Sai today inaugurated a state-level workshop under the NITI-State Workshop Series as part of the Rajya Samarthan Mission in Raipur. The workshop focused on expanding skill development, employment, and livelihood opportunities for the youth, women, and tribal communities of Chhattisgarh. CM Vishnu Deo Sai emphasized the timeliness and relevance of the workshop in today’s evolving context saying, “India is a nation of youth, and if we provide them with skill training aligned with their interests and capabilities, the vision of a ‘Developed India’ can be swiftly realized.” On this occasion, four significant Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed by the Department of Skill Development, Technical Education, and Higher Education.
CM Vishnu Deo Sai further said that the State Government is formulating schemes centered around the youth, women, and tribal communities with the goal of transforming Chhattisgarh into a developed state by 2047. Praising the Aspirational Districts initiative of NITI Aayog, he acknowledged the visible transformation in tribal areas. He expressed confidence that the effective implementation of the Rajya Samarthan Mission will lead to new livelihood and employment opportunities for youth, women, and tribal populations through skill-based training.
Highlighting the government’s commitment since 2013 to advancing skill development, CM Vishnu Deo Sai informed that efforts are underway to strengthen Livelihood Colleges, ITIs, and women’s self-help groups. Sharing details of a MoU with Mahindra & Mahindra, he stated that under this partnership, modern tractor manufacturing techniques will be taught to the youth of the state. This initiative, he said, is expected to bring about positive change in the lives of rural youth and their families in Bastar and Sarguja regions.
CM Vishnu Deo Sai also underlined the high demand for skills like electricians, plumbers, and mechanics in rural areas, where there is a shortage of trained personnel. The government, he said, is working on a comprehensive plan to provide training in these sectors. Additionally, he laid emphasis on value addition to forest products such as mahua, tamarind, and sal to boost local livelihoods.
Deputy Chief Minister Shri Vijay Sharma said that upcoming schemes will focus on providing special training courses to tribal youth in Bastar and Sarguja regions. Plans are also underway to establish self-employment and entrepreneurship training centres for women. He added that MoUs with various major companies are being pursued to attract investment and generate employment. He stressed the need to bridge the gap between skills and industry, asserting that the combination of both is essential for job creation. Youth are being trained in industries based on local resources, such as agriculture, horticulture, and handicrafts, to generate new employment avenues.
Deputy Chief Minister Shri Sharma also mentioned that the influence of Maoism in Bastar is diminishing and new employment opportunities are being created for the youth. He announced that the State Government will soon launch an e-Hub to support young innovators by providing facilities for prototyping, funding, and marketing.
Secretary of Skill Development and Technical Education Shri S. Bharathi Dasan informed the gathering that nearly 4.83 lakh youth have been trained under the Chief Minister’s Skill Development Scheme so far, out of which over 2.66 lakh have secured employment.
NITI Aayog’s Programme Director Dr. Sonia Pant shared that the ‘Rajya Samarthan Mission’ aims to provide technical assistance to states in implementing their economic and social development plans. She emphasized the strengthening of forest-based livelihood programs in tribal areas, which she said would lead to increased income for tribal communities. Dr. Pant assured that NITI Aayog would extend all necessary support to ensure greater participation of tribal youth in state-level schemes and to connect them with modern technology and skills.
The workshop was attended by the Chief Minister’s Secretary Shri Rahul Bhagat, CEO of the Department of Skill Development and Employment Shri Vijay Dayaram K., along with departmental officials and a large number of youth, women, and representatives from tribal communities.
Four Significant MoUs Signed to Boost Skill Development
The Department of Skill Development, Technical Education, and Higher Education today signed four important Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at equipping the youth of Chhattisgarh with employable skills and making them self-reliant.
The first MoU was signed between the Chhattisgarh State Skill Development Authority and the Nandi Foundation, with the objective of enhancing the employability of socially and economically disadvantaged youth. The initiative aims to improve their livelihood options and financial security by providing them with essential skills.
The second MoU was signed between the Skill Development Authority and Mahindra & Mahindra. Under this partnership, short-term training in tractor mechanics will be conducted in Livelihood Colleges located in Dantewada, Balrampur, and Kondagaon districts. The Raipur-based State Project Livelihood College Society will oversee the training programme.
The third MoU was signed between the Higher Education Department and NASSCOM. Its objective is to equip college students with knowledge of modern technologies, thereby transforming them from job seekers to job providers. This is seen as a major step toward making youth industry-ready.
The fourth MoU, signed between the Higher Education Department and the Nandi Foundation Hyderabad, focuses on providing employment-oriented training to college students to mould them into skilled and self-reliant individuals.