Haryana Minister of State for Youth Empowerment and Entrepreneurship, Sh. Gaurav Gautam, on Wednesday felicitated five Government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) of the state for securing top positions in the national grading of ITIs. The state-level function was organised at the auditorium of the Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam (HKRN) in Panchkula on the occasion of World Youth Skills Day, highlighting Haryana's remarkable achievement in strengthening technical and vocational education.
Extending his greetings on World Youth Skills Day, the Minister said that under the PM-SETU Scheme, the department aims to equip 20,000 youth with industry-relevant skills and connect them with leading industrial companies across the country. The initiative is designed to train young people in modern trades aligned with the evolving needs of industry, enabling them to secure meaningful employment.
He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi and Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, the state government is firmly committed to expanding skill development initiatives and creating better employment opportunities for the youth. Congratulating the five Government ITIs that brought laurels to Haryana at the national level, Sh. Gautam said that Government ITI Bhodia Khera (Fatehabad) secured the 5th position nationally, Government ITI Barwala (Hisar) ranked 6th, Government ITI Kaithal secured the 7th position, Government ITI Pehowa ranked 8th, while Government Women ITI Sirsa secured the 9th position in the national grading.
On the occasion, the Minister also unveiled the department's flagship publication, Yuva Samvad, aimed at promoting awareness and engagement in skill development initiatives. He also distributed appointment letters to 60 newly appointed Principals, who were selected through a transparent recruitment process, with the objective of further strengthening the quality of training and institutional administration in ITIs.
He urged the newly appointed officers to work with dedication, sincerity, and commitment to further improve the quality of vocational training across the state. Sh. Gaurav Gautam said that in today's rapidly evolving world, every sector from Artificial Intelligence (AI) and advanced technologies to conventional fields such as civil engineering is increasingly driven by skills.
He emphasised that employability in today's job market increasingly depends on skills rather than degrees. Skilled youth, he said, form the foundation of a prosperous state and an Atmanirbhar Bharat. He added that the Centre and the State Government share the vision of ensuring "Har Haath Ko Hunar" so that every young person can contribute meaningfully to the vision of a Viksit Bharat.
Director, Haryana Skill Development Mission (HSDM), Sh. Satyender Duhan; Managing Director, Sh. Rajesh Goyal; Additional Director, Smt. Kamalpreet Kaur; Assistant Directors, Sh. Sanjeev Sharma and Sh. Manoj Saini; and other senior officers were also present on the occasion.