Himachal CM Sukhu Champions Market-Driven Skill Development to Empower Youth and Strengthen State Economy

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In a powerful push toward empowering Himachal Pradesh’s youth and aligning education with employability, Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu chaired the 16th meeting of the Board of Directors of the Himachal Pradesh Kaushal Vikas Nigam (HPKVN) in Shimla, reaffirming the state’s unwavering commitment to market-oriented skill development. He emphasized that the evolving employment landscape demands dynamic, demand-driven training modules that not only foster skill acquisition but also directly lead to gainful employment and self-reliance.

Chief Minister Sukhu’s address at the meeting underscored the urgency of aligning vocational training programs with real-time market needs. He urged HPKVN to chart out a robust and actionable plan that goes beyond generic skill-building, focusing instead on specialized courses that match industry expectations. The core objective, he reiterated, must be to enhance the employability of Himachal’s youth while building pathways toward entrepreneurship and independent livelihoods. This, he said, was not just a matter of job creation but an investment in the future human capital of the state.

In a bid to accelerate the state’s infrastructure for vocational excellence, the Chief Minister directed HPKVN to expedite ongoing construction projects, including the prestigious Centre of Excellence at Waknaghat in Solan district. This center is envisioned as a hub for high-quality, industry-relevant skill training. Similarly, he stressed the timely completion of the Model Career Centres at Kaza and Udaipur in Lahaul-Spiti district, as well as the Rural Livelihood Centre in Nalagarh. These institutions, once operational, are expected to act as catalysts in connecting youth from rural and remote areas with mainstream employment ecosystems.

CM Sukhu also emphasized the importance of maintaining uncompromising quality standards in all construction-related activities under HPKVN’s purview. He noted that these centers are not merely buildings but symbolic gateways to opportunity — platforms that will determine the professional trajectories of thousands of young men and women in Himachal Pradesh. To that end, he urged the Nigam to ensure that no compromises are made in delivering state-of-the-art facilities to the beneficiaries.

Further strengthening the operational framework of the Nigam, the Board approved expenditure related to acquiring fire safety certifications (NOCs) for key facilities such as the Rural Livelihood Centre at Seraj and the Model Career Centres in Mandi and Baddi. These certifications will help ensure safe and sustainable training environments, critical for the effective and uninterrupted functioning of these centers.

One of the highlights of the meeting was the presentation of data reflecting the substantial outreach of HPKVN’s training programs. Since January 1, 2023, a remarkable 45,455 youth have enrolled in various skilling schemes and projects run under the Nigam. Out of these, 39,794 candidates have successfully completed their training and received certification, while 8,586 have already been placed in employment across different sectors. These figures reflect not just administrative achievement but the real socio-economic impact of targeted skill interventions at the grassroots level.

The Chief Minister’s focus on skill development goes beyond the conventional lens of employment. It reflects a broader vision of self-reliant villages, modernized industry, and a youth population equipped to lead Himachal Pradesh into a more economically resilient future. At a time when India is betting big on its demographic dividend, the Himachal government’s efforts to bridge the skill gap could serve as a model for other hilly and geographically challenged states.

Chief Minister Sukhu’s approach also dovetails with national initiatives like Skill India and Startup India, with a localized lens that addresses the unique challenges and potentials of Himachal’s terrain and demography. Whether it is the youth of Lahaul-Spiti, the job-seekers of Solan, or the entrepreneurs of Nalagarh, the state’s roadmap envisions inclusive and sustainable progress powered by skills.

This is a web-generated news story.
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