Gangtok, June 11 : The District Collector (DC), Gangtok, Rohan Agawane, chaired a meeting of the District Skill Committee (DSC), Gangtok District, at the Mini Hall of the District Administrative Centre (DAC), Gangtok, today. The meeting was convened in pursuance of Government Notification No. 34/Home/2026 dated April 6, 2026, pertaining to the reconstitution of the District Skill Committee and to review district-level skill development initiatives.
During the meeting, officials of the Skill Development Department presented an overview of the District Skill Committee, highlighting its mandate to promote a bottom-up approach to skill development, strengthen convergence among stakeholders, and create a demand-driven, industry-aligned skilling ecosystem across the district.
The committee deliberated on district-specific skill gaps, emerging employment opportunities, and the preparation of the Annual District Skill Development Plan. Members reviewed ongoing skill development programmes being implemented by various departments and agencies and discussed measures to align training interventions with local market requirements, enhance employability, and promote entrepreneurship and self-employment.
The members were also briefed on the functioning of Government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in the State. It was informed that four ITIs are currently operational at Rangpo, Gyalshing, Namchi and Kewzing, while new institutes at Chumbung in Soreng District and Aritar in Pakyong District are under construction and expected to be completed by 2026-27. The committee noted that 27 trades 15 engineering and 12 non-engineering are currently being offered to equip youth with industry-relevant skills and promote self-employment opportunities.
The meeting was apprised of the services being provided through Niyukti Kendra, including employment registration, career counselling, apprenticeship and internship facilitation, placement support, job fairs, and implementation of flagship programmes such as the Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS), National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), and National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS). Members emphasised the need to strengthen industry partnerships, expand apprenticeship opportunities, facilitate on-the-job training, and improve placement outcomes for skilled youth.
Discussions were also held on the implementation of the Sikkim INSPIRES initiative, with focus on the mobilisation and verification of women, youth and NEET beneficiaries, district-level skill gap assessments, and validation of employment opportunities for proposed training courses. Members were requested to support stakeholder consultations, awareness campaigns and outreach activities through local institutions, educational establishments, Self-Help Groups and community-based organisations.
The committee further deliberated on migration trends and overseas employment opportunities under the Chief Minister’s ELEVATE Scheme, including support for passport documentation, police verification and awareness generation. Emphasising the importance of sustainable livelihoods, members noted that placement remains a critical component of skill development programmes and stressed the need for stronger collaboration between training providers, industries and government agencies to ensure meaningful employment opportunities for trained candidates.
The meeting concluded with members reaffirming their commitment to strengthening convergence among skill development initiatives, promoting apprenticeship, entrepreneurship and employment opportunities, and formulating a comprehensive district skill development strategy aligned with local aspirations, industry requirements and emerging economic opportunities.
