interview2019 
Source: Google
Sanjay Singh, Secretary, Skill Development & Technical Education
Odisha’s skilling on a global scale ecosystem is on the cusp of a vibrant transformation. With its immense thrust on upgrading skills of youth, Odisha is already a differentiator from peer states. And, the talk of Bhubaneswar being bandied as the ‘Skill Capital’ along with the country’s ‘Sports Capital’ is already doing the rounds.
Much of the credit for this image metamorphosis has to be cornered by Sanjay Kumar Singh(Skilling on a Global Scale), the incumbent secretary for skill development & technical education and CMD of Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco).
Singh stole the limelight recently with a grand announcement of the second edition of Odisha Skilling on a global scale Competition 2020. The state-level competitions will be staged from April 28 to 30.
The competition has elicited an overwhelming response with around 15,000 students registering for the competition.
To be hosted in 46 skills across six sectors, the winner will represent the state in the National Skills Competition.
The winner of India Skills will, in turn, represent the country at the World Skills Meet at Shanghai in 2021.
The Odisha Skill Development Authority (OSDA) has set the 2-4-6 Mission which connotes the target of bagging two gold, four silver and six bronze medals by the youths of Odisha at the World Skills spectacle to be hosted by Shanghai in 2021.
The launch of the Skills Competition has set the ball rolling for myriad events to be held in a staggered manner. The first level of competition will be held on February 8, 2020, for 23 skills across 30 districts.
Singh feels even school kids need to be prepared for some special skills. “By the time the school students reach the ninth or tenth standard, they need to be illumined about skills, they should get the hang of skills development. The school kids need to be exposed to different institutions of skill development like ITIs and polytechnics so that can grasp the essence of it and make informed decisions”.
Lately, Skilled in Odisha got a leap with Odisha inking three memoranda of understanding (MoU) – two with IT bellwether Tech Mahindra and one with Tata Strive, a skill development initiative under the aegis of Tata Trusts.
Tech Mahindra on its part has committed to establishing a state-of-the-art international Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) unit to serve its high-end Fortune 500 Global customers.
The BPO facility is coming up at Fortune Towers, Bhubaneswar with office space leased out by Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco).
Under Singh’s stewardship, the state government is placing a huge emphasis on skills training and development. It is investing Rs 1400 crore on developing a World Skills Centre.
The Odisha Skills Development Authority (OSDA) has entered into a technical collaboration with Singapore-based ITE Educational Services (ITEES).
