Skills On Wheels! How A Bus Is Skilling People Across Odisha

"Kaushal Rath", a bus providing skills on wheels, was launched by Union Minister of Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday.

The Kaushal Rath initiative features specialised mobile buses for accessible, hands-on skill training. Currently, these buses are targeted at Odisha's Sambalpur, Angul, and Deogarh districts.

Kaushal Rath/ LinkedIn

How do the Kaushal Rath buses provide skills?

The Kaushal Rath buses are like mobile classrooms with modern tools, facilities, and certified trainers.

The training programs on these buses will touch on various topics, such as Digital Literacy, Financial Literacy, Retail, and Entrepreneurial Skills.

This initiative is led by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and aims to provide accessible and hands-on skill training to foster growth and innovation.

Why has the 'Kaushal Rath' skill development initiative been launched?

A major motive behind introducing this initiative is the need to train India's youth in digital and financial literacy.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a clarion call to make India a developed nation by 2047 with a $30 trillion economy. However, in the coming days, as AI and ML become a part and parcel of our daily lives, it is imperative that we train our youngsters in digital literacy and financial literacy so that they are empowered to thrive in the flourishing realm of digital financial services," Education Minister Pradhan said.

Skill on Wheels/ X

"¡­it is my firm belief that this Kaushal Rath initiative will play a pivotal role in educating rural communities, especially women and children, in digital literacy and new-age technology, ensuring that every citizen is well-equipped in this digital era," he added.

Skill training in India: A statistical point of view

India currently faces a severe shortage of well-trained, skilled workers. According to a Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship report, it is estimated that only 2.3 % of the workforce in India has undergone formal skill training compared to 68% in the UK, 75% in Germany and 52% in USA, according to a Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship report.

Given that skills and knowledge are the driving forces of economic growth of any country and India is one of the youngest nations in the world with over 62% of the population in the working age group (15-59 years), banking on skill development would be a lucrative decision for India.

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