Rayagada,7/2(Odian Media):Mr. Subrato Bagchi , Chairman of Odisha Skill Development Authority (OSDA), Govt of Odisha visited Rayagada on 3rd Feb 2021 as Chief Guest in the first ever district level Industry & MSMEs sensitization workshop organized jointly by Rayagada District Skill Committee, Rayagada District Administration & Odisha Skill Development Authority (OSDA) in collaboration with Sparsh Social Foundation & JK Papers. Basic objective was to devise various strategies to bridge the gaps between apprenticeship & industry MSME requirements in the district. Mr. Bagchi made a maiden visit to CSR programs of JK Paper and Sparsh Social Foundation (SSF) Odisha. After interacting with the young girls & boys in one of the Digital Learning Centers (DLCs) at Angur village in Rayagada block, setup by the Sparsh Social Foundation, Mr. Bhagchi appreciated the intervention and said “Digital Learning centers have high transformational values for tribal communities” and more such centers should be set up in coming months to empower the primitive tribal communities of Rayagada district whose youths are mostly first generation of learners in their families and grossly lack technical skills to compete for jobs in the market. Mr Bhagchi was accompanied by the Collector & DM of Rayagada, Mr Sraoj Kumar Mishra who after interacting with the youths in the digital learning center, appreciated the efforts of Sparsh & JK Paper and assured all supports to expand this program in the district . The youths in the digital learning center were extremely happy to receive certificates from the hands of Mr. Bagchi and the District Collector. Mr Bagchi stressed for a stronger collaboration of DLCs set up by Sparsh with district level ITIs & Polytechnic Colleges so that the youths in the digital learning centers can aspire for better jobs.
Interacting with Dal Producer Groups of women in Angur, set up by OLM /ORMAS & Sparsh Social Foundation, Mr Bagchi advised to adopt technologies to reduce physical pressures on the women as they are true transformative elements of society. The district Collector and Mr. Bagchi also visited the site of Rural Hatt at Koltiguda and appreciated the efforts of JK Paper & NABARD to come up with such rural infrastructure as it is a vital asset for the transformation of tribal communities in the district and directly linked to their livelihood, culture, identity and quality of lives. The forest, agriculture, tribal art, craft & culture based economies will be boosted further by this Rural Hatt. Both the collector & Mr Bagchi suggested to make this Rural Hatt as aesthetic as possible and a world standard infrastructure in Rayagada. Mr. Bagachi and District Collector also assured additional financial support, if required for this purpose. Both the dignitaries interacted with the local Sarapanch and villagers. Mr. Prafulla Kumar Dhal, the General Manager, CSR JK Paper & Sparsh Social Foundation facilitated the entire visit of Mr. Bagchi & the District Collector while among others Mr. Pinakhi Pattanaik, Joint Secretary, Govt of Odisha accompanied the dignitaries during this visit. Mr Kishore Sahu, Ms. Kamini Singh, Manoj Yadav, Manushree Ray, Rajesh Biswal, Pratik Kashyap and Tapan Pedenti form Sparsh Soial Foundation organized the community interactions.
