The National Level competition, featuring India’s state of art talent, under strict pandemic norms, ended with the revolutionary victory of the students of ITI Cuttack, India’s leading Industrial Training Institute, who will further represent India’s Skill potential in the World Skills competition to be held in October at Shanghai, China.
With Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Skill, Re-skill and Up-skill to make India a Global Skilled Capital, IndiaSkills 2021 was organized by the National Skill Development Corporation, the nodal agency for Skill Development Initiatives in India, from January 6 to 10 at Indian Trade Promotion Organization(ITPO), Pragati Maidan, Delhi.
The competition reported over 500 participants from 26 states of India, who competed in 54 different skills, which concluded on January 10 with the felicitation ceremony of the winners in the 3 days competition. Competition in 34 skills out of total was held at Pragati Maidan, Delhi while in 14 skills at different parts in the regional parts in the Delhi, 7 in Bangalore and 1 at the Mumbai. There were also competitions in demonstration skills as in Abilympics, which was the competition among persons with disabilities.
"The Skill competitions are crucial to attracting young people to occupational training and also, to ensure to be in pace with the Industrial and Technological Changes. It inculcates a sustainable public-private partnership to meet Industrial Competitiveness,” Prakash Sharma, Technical Delegate, WorldSkills India remarked in a welcome address.
He further added, “Through such goals, NSDC aims to empower the Indian youth with the skills which align intending to create a massive skilled workforce for the future.”
From various skills such as 3D Digital Game Art, Cabinet making, Carpentry, Cyber Security, Digital Construction, Electronics and Electrical installation, etc to Abilympics in Bricklaying, Autobody Repair, Renewable Energy, Car Painting, Welding, Additive manufacturing, the competition aimed to foster Indian talent pool offering modern Industrial and technical skills.
“No work is meagre, each work has its utility in society. India has a potential talent pool. The only thing that needs to be done is to make the skills aspirational,” commented Rajesh Aggrawal, Secretary, MSDE.
The competition also included the cutting edge Industry 4.0 skills, Mechatronics, Prototype Modelling, CNC Turning, CNC Milling, Robots System Integration which were completed earlier at Bangalore, as regional competitions which took place in Patna, Chandigarh, Gandhinagar and Vishakhapatnam during October-December, 2021.
Arun Chandel, Senior Head, World Skills India delivering the thanking note said, “Industry support is the key stakeholder to conduct such competitions. With the requisite infrastructure and equipment needs, such skill competitions which are important for the country’s economy are made possible.”
With Odisha at the top position on Medal-tally with 51 Medals, the Government ITI Cuttack bagged 1 Gold medal and 2 Silver Medals in the competition, with Santosh Ojha who won Gold in Cabinet Making, Rajesh Roul and Tapas Samal who won Silver in Refrigeration & Air-Conditioning. The winners will further compete in the World Skills competition in Shanghai, Showcasing India's Skill potential.
Commenting on the success achieved by the students of ITI Cuttack, Dr Hrushikesh Mohanty, Principal said, "The Government ITI Cuttack once again created history. Our students won 1 Gold Medal and 2 Silver Medals in the India Skills national level competition recently held at Delhi from 6th to 10th January 2022." He showed optimism that the winners will be able to bring honour to the country by competing at the World Skills competition in Shanghai, China scheduled in October 2022.
