President Murmu inaugurates IGNOU regional and skill centres at Rairangpur

Bhubaneswar, Jan 1: President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday virtually inaugurated the IGNOU Regional Centre and IGNOU Skill Centre at Rairangpur in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district, marking the English New Year. The programme was organised under the Skilling for AI Readiness (SOAR) initiative of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

Addressing the gathering, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the newly inaugurated IGNOU centre at Rairangpur would play a crucial role in expanding employment and entrepreneurship opportunities in the region. He noted that, for the first time, IGNOU would integrate skill-based education with formal education, bringing a significant transformation to the country’s learning ecosystem.

Pradhan highlighted that President Murmu, an educator by background, has consistently upheld values and dignity throughout her life. Under her guidance, he said, the centres would especially benefit people from marginalised sections of society.

Emphasising the importance of technology-driven skilling, Pradhan said local tribal and rural communities would be connected with Artificial Intelligence and modern technologies. This would help in the effective utilisation of Mayurbhanj’s natural resources, forest wealth and labour force while enhancing skills and employability.

Referring to global discussions on Artificial Intelligence, the Union Minister said such concerns should be viewed as an opportunity for India. He noted that the country is currently hosting the “AI Impact” conference and various initiatives are underway to educate the younger generation through AI-enabled programmes. He described the “AI for All” initiative as a potential game changer in the near future.

On the occasion, Pradhan congratulated the people of Mayurbhanj and Odisha and thanked IGNOU for its partnership in the initiative. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building a confident and prosperous New India through the effective use of technology.

Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Jayant Chaudhary was also present. Ministers, Members of Parliament, MLAs and senior officials from the Central and state governments joined the programme virtually from Baripada and other locations.