-Subhalaxmi Dash
Bhubaneswar (20/05):
The wholeof Odisha is in high spirits as Team Odisha soared high at ‘India Skills-2024’, bagging the highest number of medals in this national championship for the second time consecutively. Odisha attainedFirst place in the medal tally nationwide, summing up the medals count to 51, among which are 17 Golds. On Monday, Team Odisha was warmly welcomed on their arrival at Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar after the grand success.
The Gems of Odisha were welcomed at the Bhubaneswar Airport by many officials, including Mrs. Usha Padhee, Principal Secretary, Skill Development and Technical Education Department, Government of Odisha; Mrs. Rashmita Panda, Director-Employment & Chief Executive Officer, Odisha Skill Development Authority; Mr. Reghu G, Director, Directorate of Technical Education and Training; Mr. Pinaki Patnaik, Additional Secretary, Skill Development & Technical Education Department, Government of Odisha & Chief Operating Officer, World Skill Center; Mr. Thambyrajah, Principal, World Skill Center; Dr.Subhanga K Das, Deputy Principal, World Skill Center; and other officials were also present.
The Honorable Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik congratulated Team Odisha on their well-deserved victory in India Skills 2024. He expressed delight in the state’s accomplishment and stressed that the competitors’ hard work and dedication were the reason for Odisha’s triumph. He continued by saying that others will be inspired by this achievement. The Chief Executive Officer of World Skill Center and Chairperson of the Odisha Skill Development Authority, Alka Misra, also congratulated the Team Odisha gold medal bearers. This time, she stated that the necessary steps are being taken to broaden and internationalize the skill set of Odisha’s young through the Odisha government’s ‘Skilled in Odisha’ initiative.
The ‘India Skills2024’ competition took place in four Indian cities and nine centers. Organized by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India, the event saw the participation of over 900 candidates representing various States and Union Territories of India. They demonstrated exceptional proficiency in 48 areas, including Cyber Security, Industrial Control, Information Network Cabling, Mobile Robotics, and Mobile Application Development. To inspire the competitors for India Skills 2024, senior representatives from the Skill Development and Technical Education Department, the Government of Odisha, and the Odisha Skill Development Authority paid a visit.
Odisha achieved the highest medal total in the all-India level for the second consecutive year at India Skills 2024, taking home 17 Gold, 13 Silver, 9 Bronze, and 12 ‘Medallion of Excellence’. 51 competitors from Odisha out of 64 competed at India Skills, winning medals in 41 different skill categories. The ‘World Skills’ tournament is scheduled for September in Lyon, France. Team Odisha’s current goal is to win medals for the state at ‘World Skills’, following their greatest result in India Skills 2024. The Skilled Youth of Odisha keeps inspiring others to aspire, attain, and accomplish.
Subhalaxmi Dash,
MA English with Communication Studies, Christ University, Bengaluru Yeshwanthpur Campus.