Dharmendra Pradhan addressing the gathering during the inaugural ceremony

Mr Dharmendra Pradhan,  Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship  inaugurated the Skill Development Institute (SDI) at Adalaj, Ahmedabad today. This  Institute has been established to achieve the National Skill Development  Mission of Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi which aims to empower the youth  of the nation through skill training and capacity building.

SDI Ahmedabad, set up by  ONGC, is equipped to impart training in three trades i.e. Fitter Fabrication,  Welding and Production Technician, through a six months’ residential program.  The first batch of 90 students has been enrolled comprising of 76 students from  SC/ST and OBC communities. Aspire Disruptive Skill Foundation is the training  partner for the program. With this initiative, opportunities for employment and  income generation will open up for the youth of the country.Addressing the gathering,  Mr Pradhan said that nearly One Crore youth are seeking employment  opportunities annually. To provide suitable jobs the youth need to be provided  requisite skill enhancement training.

Unveiling of plaque during the inauguration of SDI, Ahmedabad

The  minister said that Skill Development Institutes being set up with the support  of the oil sector companies are a major step in this direction. “To meet the  aspirations of the youth, Skill Development cannot be done by the Government  only. It needs the support of PSEs, corporates, training institutes and  industrial sector, all in a cohesive manner”, he said.

The Ministry of Petroleum  and Natural Gas has established the Hydrocarbon Skill Council which would ensure  setting up and functioning of six Skill Development Institutes (SDI) in different  states. Oil PSUs viz. ONGC, IOC, HPCL, BPCL, OIL, GAIL, EIL and Balmer Lawrie have  been entrusted responsibility of promoting these Institutes.Three institutes, at Bhubaneswar,  Vishakhapatnam and Kochi are already functional. The fourth Institute has been  established at Ahmedabad to meet the aspirations of the youth of Gujarat and neighboring  States. Two more Institutes will commence shortly at Rae Bareilly in Uttar  Pradesh and Guwahati in Assam.

 DG, DGH, Mr Atanu  Chakraborty, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and  Entrepreneurship, Mr Rajesh Agarwal, Director (Onshore) ONGC, Mr V.P.  Mahawar, senior government officers, executives from Oil PSUs, trustees,  faculty members and students of the Institute participated in the inaugural  event.

Issued By:
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd
Corporate Communications, New Delhi