Skill development took center stage at the Bengaluru Skill Summit, held from Nov. 4 to 6 at the Lalit Ashok in Bengaluru, where speakers addressed a wide range of related topics — from technology and artificial intelligence to sustainability and inclusion. A recurring theme was the need to ensure that skill development opportunities are accessible to all sections of society.
Subroto Bagchi, co-founder of Mindtree and former chairman of the Odisha Skill Development Authority, spoke extensively about improving skill development in Odisha.
Bagchi described the challenges faced by students in skill training programs, noting that he was disturbed by the conditions he observed in rural Odisha and other regions — a concern that spurred him to push for improvements.
He discussed his mission to build the “Skilled in Odisha” brand, anchored in the idea of human transformation and designed to attract high-quality employers. “It’s not enough to say we’re doing skill development. That’s not aspirational enough,” Bagchi said. “We said that Odisha must become a sandbox of innovation. New ideas should be tried here which would be worth emulating elsewhere.”
Bagchi went on to discuss his efforts to improve Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs). He described the “10, 6, 4” formula he used to gauge an ITI’s success: asking institute heads to name ten students they are proud of, six who have made a name for themselves, and four who are girls — noting that women are often underrepresented in ITIs. He also asked about students who had gone on to start small businesses instead of seeking traditional jobs.
Bagchi shared the success story of a young woman from a tribal family who became a loco pilot in the Indian Railways. He also highlighted other initiatives he introduced, such as redesigning ITI uniforms to make them smarter and more practical, and sending ITI teachers to Singapore for leadership training.
Meanwhile, the top ITIs in Karnataka received the Kaushalya Karnataka Awards, presented by Dr. Sharanaparakash Rudrappa Patil, Minister for Skill Development, Entrepreneurship & Livelihood and Medical Education, Government of Karnataka; Shivakantamma Naik, Chairperson of the Karnataka Skill Development Corporation and Karnataka Vocational Training & Skill Development Corporation; and B.V. Naidu, Chairman of the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission, Government of Karnataka.
Outstanding trainees from ITIs — including Amargh Shivarudrappa Parushetti, Nithin Kumar V, Santhosh Rathada, and S. Veeresh — were recognised at the event. Top trainers and principals of ITIs were also felicitated. ITIs from Nigadigrama, Peenya, Srirangapatna, Shirali, and Vittalapura received awards for best-performing institutes.
Awards were also presented to the best trainers and trainees from Government Tool Room and Training Centres (GTTC). Top trainees included Basavaraja B, Tensing Rathod, Saraswathi K.I., and Rashika M.E. Additionally, the best-performing Self Help Groups (SHGs) in the state were honoured.
The summit’s focus on grassroots skill development underscored the growing importance of skills in the economy and the need to ensure fair, equitable opportunities for all sections of society to benefit.