Dharmendra Pradhan launches a project ‘ODISERV’ to empower youth, make them more employable and fulfill their aspirations
Union Minister of Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan, launched Project ‘ODISERV’ in Sambalpur to prepare young graduates of Odisha for employment opportunities in the financial services sector.
“NEP 2020 is bridging the gap between education and skilling, creating more synergies and allowing students to acquire job-ready skills along with academic knowledge”, Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister of Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, said.
“1100 students in Odisha have already been trained under Project ODISERV and a few of them have also received jobs. The 100-hour training programme will equip Odisha’s youth with crucial skills required in the banking, finance and insurance industries. The training programme will boost competencies, increase the employability of Yuva Shakti of Odisha and prepare a future-ready workforce, he said.
Sanjiv Bajaj, Chairman & Managing Director, Bajaj Finserv, said, “The CPBFI programme was started to fill the talent gap in the financial services sector and how the family incomes of beneficiaries increase significantly when participants secure employment after their certification. Our partnership with NSDC will help scale up CPBFI in colleges across India. The launch of Project Odiserv is significant as Odisha gears to emerge as a hub for entrepreneurship and start-ups through the recently announced 100 cube initiative.”
National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) under the aegis of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and Bajaj Finserv Ltd unveiled their first skill development initiative – Project Odiserv at Gangadhar Meher University (GMU) in Sambalpur, Odisha. Project Odiserv is the inaugural skill development initiative, following the partnership announced by NSDC and Bajaj Finserv in December 2023.
The project will impart knowledge and skills to graduates, especially first-generation graduates, through Bajaj Finserv’s Certificate Programme for Banking Finance & Insurance (CPBFI) programme, a 100-hour comprehensive training programme that prepares youth from tier-II and tier-III cities for employment in the financial services sector. The launch of Project Odiserv is expected to transform the landscape of skill development in Odisha.
Project Odiserv envisages launching the CPBFI programme in 60 colleges of Odisha across 11 cities and 10 districts including Sambalpur, Dhenkanal, Angul, Cuttack, Khordha, Balasore and Puri. Some of the colleges covered include Bhuban Women’s Degree College, Mathakaragola Degree College, Sambalpur University and SCS College. CPBFI has already been launched in 30 colleges, enrolling 1100 students and delivering 25,000 hours of training in a short span of two months.
Under the partnership with NSDC & Bajaj Finserv will introduce the CPBFI programme in 22 states across India, covering over 400 colleges. The partnership aims to initially build the capabilities of 20,000 candidates through the CPBFI programme. The 100-hour programme is developed in collaboration with industry experts, training partners, educational institutions and psychological health institutes. The programme’s curriculum adapts to the ever-evolving landscape of finance, banking and insurance and incorporates the latest industry trends, technological advancements and best practices.
The partnership with NSDC will be elevated on Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH), a comprehensive information gateway for all government-led skilling and entrepreneurship initiatives to ensure students are not just academically equipped but also excel in the financial sector.
Additionally, the programme will collaborate with banks and other financial stakeholders, financial institutions and insurance companies to foster new growth opportunities for students and provide access to internships, on-the-job training and a first-hand glimpse into best industry practices.
