Bhubaneswar: ORMAS marked a significant milestone Wednesday as the DDUGKY Alumni Meet brought together thousands of young professionals who have moved from classroom training to rewarding careers across India and abroad.
Held at the OUAT Assembly Hall, the event showcased inspiring stories of determination and transformation, underscoring how structured skilling, industry partnerships and emerging trades are reshaping livelihoods across Odisha.
The event also highlighted Odisha’s rising leadership in green jobs, digital competencies and future-ready employment avenues, reaffirming the state’s commitment to building a globally competitive skilled workforce.
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The event was attended by ORMAS CEO Monica Priyadarshini, Additional CEO Sanjeeb Kumar Singh, Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) Director (Skill) Santosh Kumar Tiwari, Mission Manager (DDU-GKY) Shashi Kumar Yadav, NIRDPR Assistant Director Jeevan Reddy and NABCONS AGM Anamika Panda. Their insights enriched discussions on strengthening rural skilling initiatives and expanding placement-driven interventions across the state.
At the heart of Odisha’s skilling transformation is the leadership of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water and Rural Development Minister Rabi Narayan Naik. Though unable to attend in person, their guidance and commitment to youth-centric development continue to drive efforts toward inclusive growth, livelihood security and the expansion of emerging trades.
ORMAS, supported by 111 project implementing agencies (PIAs), has played a pivotal role in providing industry-aligned training across all districts.
Under the DDU-GKY programme, 2.08 lakh youth have been trained, with 1.19 lakh placed in sectors such as hospitality, retail, healthcare, CNC operations, electronics assembly and sewing machine operation.
Trainees are provided free residential accommodation, food, uniforms, study materials and practical training, ensuring a holistic learning experience. Odisha has been recognised as one of the best-performing states under DDU-GKY during 2016–17 to 2019–20, reflecting its strong implementation framework and focus on quality.
For 2025–26, ORMAS plans to train 11,432 more youth, with 13 new PIAs recently onboarded. With a cumulative investment of Rs 1,095 crore from the Government of India and the Odisha government, DDUGKY continues to advance empowerment, income generation and dignified livelihoods.
The rollout of DDU-GKY 2.0 at the national level ushers in a new era of simplified processes, improved placement outcomes and faster project approvals. The Alumni Meet concluded with a pledge to further strengthen Odisha’s leadership in rural skilling. Contributions from alumni, PIAs, industry partners and government bodies were acknowledged as vital to the state’s mission.
ORMAS reaffirmed its commitment to nurturing a skilled, empowered and future-ready workforce, driving Odisha’s socio-economic progress.
