The Ladakh Skill Development Mission (LSDM) held its 4th Governing Council Meeting under the chairmanship of Dr. Pawan Kotwal IAS, Advisor to the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh and Chairperson of the Governing Council LSDM. The meeting, held at 4:00 PM in the conference hall of the Civil Secretariat Leh, reviewed the activities and achievements of the mission during the fiscal year 2023-2024 and finalized plans for the upcoming fiscal year 2024-25.
Abied Hussain, Officer on Special Duty to the Commissioner/Secretary of the Technical Department, delivered a comprehensive presentation highlighting the key initiatives undertaken by LSDM in the past year. This included the establishment of Skill Laboratories in six-degree colleges across UT Ladakh, skill training programs for ITI pass outs and ongoing trainees in premier institutes outside Ladakh, and specialized training for differently-abled individuals along with Training of Trainers (TOT) programs for ITI trainers.
Collaborations with Usha International Limited and the Directorate of Social and Tribal Welfare Ladakh resulted in the establishment of Usha Silai Training Centers at 13 Anganwadi centers, aimed at creating livelihood opportunities for rural women.
The meeting also discussed the successful implementation of centrally sponsored schemes such as PM Vishwakarma and PMKVY 4.0, which provided training and certification to candidates in various trades and courses.Dr. Pawan Kotwal emphasized the importance of preserving traditional crafts and advocated for training in technical courses such as solar technician, home stay management, spinning, and electric vehicles.
The meeting was attended by key officials including Commissioner/Secretary of various departments like Technical Education & Skill Development, Higher Education, Social Welfare, Agriculture, Horticulture & Floriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, Tourism and Culture, along with representatives from Finance Department, Rural Development & PR Department, NSDC (National Skill Development Corporation), and other departments involved in skill development initiatives in Ladakh.
The gathering focused on strengthening the skill development ecosystem in Ladakh to empower youth and promote sustainable livelihoods in the region.