Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh tells Skill Development Corporation officials to take up State-level skill census exercise-OxBig News Network

Minister for Information Technology & Human Resources Development Nara Lokesh. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu

Andhra Pradesh Minister for Human Resource Development (HRD), IT and Electronics Nara Lokesh on Friday (January 10, 2025) directed officials to initiate the skill census programme across the State shortly.

The Minister reviewed the road map for implementation of the skill census with officials of the Andhra Pradesh State Skill Development Corporation (APSSDC) at his residence in Undavalli and said utmost care should be taken for proper implementation of this “first-of-its-kind” initiative in the country.

He said the officials should utilise the experience they gained during the pilot skill census project implemented in Mangalagiri constituency for an effective State-level drive. Directing the officials to collect data from both the organised and unorganised sectors for the census, he said this data would be useful to the youth for lifetime.

Mr. Lokesh informed that the Telugu Desam Party’s (TDP) central office had been training skilled workers with its own funds and providing them job opportunities, and suggested that the Overseas Manpower Corporation of Andhra Pradesh (OMCAP) should organise similar training programmes to help youth secure jobs abroad.

He said skilled workers were in demand not only in Arab countries, but also in European and Southeast Asian nations. Based on this demand, around two lakh people could be provided jobs abroad through targeted training programmes.

The Minister said students in government colleges should be taught foreign languages such as German and Japanese and urged the officials to equip youth with cutting-edge technologies and advanced technical knowledge to meet international standards.

He said after completion of the skill census, youth should be motivated to undergo skill development training in areas of their interest. He said the primary objective was to create 20 lakh jobs in the next five years.

Secretary, Skill Development Kona Sashidhar, APSSDC Managing Director Ganesh Kumar and others attended the meeting.