Subroto Bagchi was invited by Naveen Patnaik, former chief minister of Odisha in 2016 to help shape the state’s skilling architecture.
He was given a free hand and a one-line charter—make ‘Skilled in Odisha’ an aspirational brand.
But it was not easy. Government-run ITIs in the state were in a state of decay. Studying or teaching in an ITI was not seen as a badge of honour.
Bagchi drew up a multi-pronged approach to make ITIs aspirational.
Every principal was asked to identify students who had passed out of their ITI before and were doing exemplary work. Their story was presented to the students as role models.
To build self-confidence, which was low, the government roped in the NIFT to design uniforms.
The students were also introduced to sports and arts. This ensured that they had cool things to do apart from simply learning trades.
The students were also taught soft skills that considerably enhanced their employability
Then, many ITI teachers were sent to ITE Singapore, considered as one of the best skilling institutions in the world, for training. This created a sense of purpose among the teachers and lifted their morale.
The ITI curriculum was also realigned to the needs of the industry. Many ITIs tied up with companies to set up Centre of Excellences and design specific courses.
The “Skilled In Odisha” initiative has set new standards for vocational skill training.
Results? See the chart below 👇
More importantly, the Odisha government is now betting on its skilled workforce to attract industry 🏭 💪
Now that’s what you call as casestudy material ❤️ 🫡
Source: Long Story by N Madhavan, Mint, 03 March 2025
