One-Day Workshop on “Role of Skill India Mission (PMKVY) in Developing Skilled Workforce for Industry 4.0” held at NIT Rourkela

The Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), New Delhi has sponsored a six months project entitled “Role of Skill India Mission (PM Kaushal Vikas Yojana) in Developing Skilled Workforce for Industry 4.0 in Eastern India” Prof. Rajeev Kumar Panda (School of Management) and to Prof. Rama Chandra Pradhan (Dept. of Food Process Engineering). To disseminate the outcomes of the project, a one-day workshop on “Role of Skill India Mission (PMKVY) in Developing Skilled Workforce for Industry 4.0” was organised in the Department of Food Process Engineering, NIT Rourkela.

The workshop started with the inaugural ceremony. Prof. Chandan Kumar Sahoo, Dean (Faculty Welfare), joined as the chief guest of the event. In his speech, he discussed Environmental Management Systems (EMS), which provide guidelines for establishing and maintaining effective environmental management practices within organisations and include topics like the process of environmental auditing, setting environmental objectives, and implementing strategies for continual improvement. Sunil Kayal, President, Rourkela Chamber of Commerce, was the Guest of Honour of the workshop. He emphasised the role of food processing as a new facet of entrepreneurial venture. He also discussed the scheme of PMKVY—Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana—and how it would aid in boosting the country’s economy. Around 60 participants from industry, academia, research scholar, self-help groups, and various other stakeholder from Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal, etc attended the one-day workshop.

The workshop included four technical sessions based on the objectives of the project. With the chairmanship of Atish Chandra Sarkar, Chief General Manager, Rourkela Steel Plant, and the co-chairmanship of Chiranjib Samal, CEO, FTBI, NIT Rourkela, the first session theme entitled Role of Skill India Mission in Addressing Skill Requirements and Challenges of Industry 4.0,” was completed.

In the second session a discussion as held on “Industry Perceptions about Skill India Mission and Bridging the Skill Gaps for Industry 4.0,” to which Prof. Mayank Yadav, is the session chair and Anup Agarwal, Rourkela Steel Plant, was the co-session chair. Likewise In the third session, Prof. Tanuj Negi, and Sitarashmi Sahu, Founder, Biotez Agrinovation Pvt Ltd, spoke on theme, “Key success factors and best practices for implementing the Skill India Mission for developing a skilled workforce for Industry 4.0.”

In the fourth and final technical session with the theme “Enhancing the effectiveness and impact of the Skill India Mission in the context of Industry 4.0,” B. Sunil Kartha, Chief General Manager, Rourkela Steel Plant, and Debendra Pradhan, Founder, Coratia Technology Pvt. Ltd., joined as chair and co-chair respectively. Mr. Ashutosh Nayak from Koel Fresh Pvt. Ltd., delivered the keynote address in the program.

During the valedictory session of the workshop, Prof. Rajiv K Panda, the convener of the workshop, summarizing about the outcome of the workshop. Prof. Siddhartha S. Jena, Dean (Students Affairs) was the Chief Guest of the valedictory session, congratulated the conveners, the participants, and the stakeholders for making the workshop a grand success. He also wished for more such collaborative work with ICSSR, which would add in nation-building. Prof. Rama Chandra Pradhan, delivered vote of thanks at the end of the session.