Empowering Tribal Youth: NTRI Hosts Workshop on New Age Skills

New Delhi: The National Tribal Research Institute (NTRI), under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, hosted a pivotal workshop titled “Empowering Tribal Youth with New Age Skills” in New Delhi today. The workshop aimed to equip tribal youth with essential skills and knowledge to thrive in today’s rapidly evolving world. Nirupam Chakma, Member of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, presided over the event as the Chief Guest.

The workshop covered a broad spectrum of topics, including new age skills, government initiatives for building entrepreneurial skills in youth, and vocational training for a sustainable future. It featured sessions led by experienced professionals and scholars from universities, government and non-government organizations, start-up incubators, industry, and successful tribal entrepreneurs.

In the inaugural session, Chief Guest Nirupam Chakma emphasized the capability of tribal youth to adapt to new challenges and environments. He highlighted the importance of incorporating new age skills such as computer literacy, data science, and artificial intelligence into the curriculum for tribal youths. Chakma noted that the United Nations General Assembly declared July 15 as World Youth Skills Day in 2014, underlining the global significance of skill development.

Surendar Nath Tripathi, Director General of the Indian Institute of Public Administration, stressed the importance of primary education in local dialects for both tribal and non-tribal youth. Special Director of NTRI, Prof. Nupur Tiwary, underscored the strategic significance of the workshop in equipping youth with valuable skills for employment, academic exploration, and entrepreneurial development. She echoed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement that skill development is a national need and the foundation of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.

Prof. Deepak Kumar Behera, Vice Chancellor of Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), emphasized the importance of integrating new age knowledge in tribal areas, particularly communication skills, mobile learning, community involvement, mentorship, and vocational programs. Prof. Sanjay Kumar Nayak, Vice-Chancellor of Ravenshaw University, highlighted the vital role of new age skills in bridging the gap between traditional knowledge systems and modern technology, fostering innovation and self-reliance among tribal youths.

Officials from the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Atal Incubation Centre of NITI Aayog, National Council for Vocational Education and Training, SIDBI, Ministry of MSME, along with policy experts, social entrepreneurs, and tribal scholars, also stressed the importance of equipping tribal youth with new age skills to ensure their holistic development and integration into the mainstream economy.