Bhubaneswar: The Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, on Friday approved a fresh set of policy moves aimed at expanding skill development capacity, boosting irrigation coverage, and upgrading the State’s tourism framework. The decisions were cleared at a meeting that considered proposals from eight departments and endorsed 11 initiatives.
A major approval came for the second phase of the Odisha Skill Development Project, the State’s flagship effort to equip young people with industry-ready training. The project focuses on vocational learning, apprenticeship linkages, and partnerships with technology-driven sectors. Officials say the expanded programme is expected to reach a wider pool of students and strengthen employability in manufacturing, services, and new-age trades.
In a parallel move, the Cabinet backed the expansion of the Bhubaneswar-based World Skill Centre, the State’s international-standard training facility. Two new satellite campuses will be set up in Berhampur and Sambalpur, extending specialised skill programmes to previously underserved regions. The new hubs are expected to attract talent from southern and western Odisha and reduce concentration of training capacity in the capital.
Irrigation received a substantial push with two major approvals.
The government sanctioned funding of over Rs310 crore for an underground pipeline system linked to the Integrated Anandpur Barrage Project, designed to irrigate around 57,000 hectares of farmland. The scheme replaces traditional canal structures with piped supply, which is considered more water-efficient and less prone to losses and seepage.
A second project, with a budget of over Rs190 crore, will bring assured irrigation to 6,343 hectares in Ganjam district. Officials said the combined approvals reflect the State’s priority to enhance agricultural productivity and reduce dependence on rainfall, particularly in drought-prone blocks, according to Chief Secretary Anu Garg, who revealed all the information on X.
The Cabinet also agreed to amend the Odisha Tourism Policy, 2022, a move expected to fine-tune incentives for investors, streamline approvals and encourage private participation. Tourism is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the State, anchored by coastal destinations, heritage circuits and eco-tourism sites.
Taken together, the measures signal a multi-sector push for economic and social outcomes – strengthening youth skilling pathways, supporting farming communities, and improving tourism competitiveness. Further details on project timelines and financial outlays are expected to be issued by the concerned departments.
