THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR, JULY 22, 2026
Reiterating the State Government’s commitment to building a
future-ready skilled workforce, Skill Development & Technical Education and
Industries Minister Sampad Chandra Swain on Wednesday asserted that Industrial
Training Institutes (ITIs) and Polytechnics will play a pivotal role in
bridging Odisha’s emerging skill gap and supporting the State’s industrial
growth. Reviewing the performance of Government ITIs and Polytechnics at a meeting
in meeting held at SCTE&VT Bhubaneswar, the Minister called for greater
institutional excellence, stronger industry collaboration and inclusive access
to quality technical education.
The meeting brought together Principals of all 72 Government
ITIs and 35 Government Polytechnics to deliberate on strengthening the quality,
relevance and outcomes of technical education in Odisha.
Minister Swain emphasized that technical institutions such as
ITIs and Polytechnics are the backbone of Odisha’s industrial growth and
economic transformation. He noted that while the State’s institutions have
earned recognition at various levels, rapid technological advancements and
evolving industry requirements demand continuous modernization, innovation and
stronger alignment with industry needs.
The Minister stressed that under the visionary leadership of
the Chief Minister, the State Government is placing strong emphasis on the
holistic upgradation of technical institutions across Odisha. He called upon
Principals to play a proactive leadership role in implementing reforms,
improving institutional performance and ensuring that students are equipped
with industry-relevant skills, thereby enhancing employability and addressing
emerging skill gaps.
The Minister urged institutions to focus on ensuring that no
seats remain vacant and to make concerted efforts towards increasing enrolment
of girls, SC, ST and PVTG students. He also highlighted the importance of
reducing student dropouts, improving placement rates, strengthening industry
linkages and creating a supportive learning environment that encourages youth
from all sections of society to pursue technical education.
“The future growth of
Odisha’s industries will depend on the availability of skilled human resources.
ITIs and Polytechnics must rise to this challenge and become centres of
excellence that produce competent, industry-ready professionals,” the Minister
remarked.
During the day-long conference, extensive deliberations were held on improving training quality, strengthening industry partnerships, enhancing placement outcomes, effective utilization of infrastructure and adoption of best practices.
Among others, Bhupendra Singh Poonia, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Skill Development & Technical Education Department; Chakravarti Singh Rathore, Director, Technical Education & Training; and other senior officials of the Department were present on the occasion.
