Odisha Governor Inaugurates ILTC, flags off ‘Skill on Wheel’ in Bhubaneswar

By Swagatika Mohapatra

Bhubaneswar, May 16 : Skill Development Institute Bhubaneswar (SDI) marked a momentous occasion on Friday with the visit of Hon’ble Governor of Odisha, who launched the International Language Training Centre and flagged off the ‘Skill on Wheel’ initiative, both supported by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).

The event witnessed the presence of Hon’ble Minister of State for Industries, Skill Development and Technical Education, Government of Odisha, Shri Sampad Chandra Swain, who joined in celebrating this milestone for skill development in the state.

Also in attendance were Shri Bhupendra Singh Poonia, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Skill Development & Technical Education Department, Government of Odisha; Smt Rasmi Govil, Director (HR), Indian Oil Corporation; along with senior dignitaries from NSDC and other stakeholders from the skill development ecosystem.

In his address, the Hon’ble Governor appreciated the vision of the Skill India Mission, launched by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, and highlighted Odisha’s progressive efforts in the field of skill development. He applauded the contribution of Hon’ble Union Minister of Education Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, calling him the architect behind the nationally acclaimed SDI Bhubaneswar. He said:

“This world-class campus, developed with an investment of Rs. 500 crore over 47 acres at the foothills of the historic Barunei Hill, stands as a model for skill training excellence. With multiple Centres of Excellence and strong industry collaboration, SDI Bhubaneswar has already emerged as a finishing school for Engineering, Polytechnic, and ITI graduates.”

The “International Language Training Centre (an NSDC initiative) launched today, is dedicated to preparing youth for international career opportunities through foreign language training and pre-departure support.

The Governor also flagged off the ‘Skill on Wheel’, a mobile training unit equipped with modern infrastructure aimed at delivering doorstep training across educational institutions in Odisha, further expanding the outreach of skill development.

Expressing his best wishes, the Governor said, “I hope SDI Bhubaneswar will continue to rise as a Skill Academy of National stature and bring greater pride to our state, Odisha.”

Hon’ble Minister Shri Sampad Chandra Swain lauded the vision of Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan and affirmed the commitment of Hon’ble Chief Minister of Odisha Shri Mohan Charan Majhi to transform Odisha into the Skill Hub of Purva Bharat. He called SDI Bhubaneswar the “Bati Ghara” (lighthouse) for the youth of Odisha as well as Eastern India.

Both of these two new initiatives at SDI Bhubaneswar were made possible through the collaborative leadership of Mr. Ranjan Bhowmick, CEO of SDI Bhubaneswar and  COO Shri Rajesh Kumar Tripathy.