Vocational Skills Empowers Youth in Gandaki Province

Pokhara. The formal inauguration of a three-month (390 work-hour) skill-development training program, aimed at making the youth of Gandaki Province self-reliant, entrepreneurial, and professionally empowered, took place today.

Minister for Social Development, Youth and Sports, Bindu Kumar Thapa, inaugurated the program and expressed confidence that this initiative—connecting youth with employment, business opportunities, and self-confidence through skills—will be historic.

Minister Thapa stated, "No one is small after acquiring a skill; it is necessary to learn with respect. I urge everyone to respect labor and become entrepreneurs by staying in Nepal."

According to him, the Provincial Government has allocated a budget for seed money for those who wish to start an enterprise after completing the training. 

He added that the government will continuously monitor the trainees' progress, explaining that an enterprise can be established in coordination with banks, with the Provincial Government contributing 50% and the investor (trainee) 50%.

In the program, Dr. Somnath Sapkota, Chief of the Gandaki Technical Education and Vocational Training Academy (GTETA), emphasized the growing importance of skills and the necessity of vocational education. 

He said, "Skill development training is becoming a brand. Trainees must be responsible in utilizing the government's investment."

According to Anil Subedi, Chief of the Vocational and Skill Development Training Centre (VSDTC), Kaski, training will be conducted under 13 titles this time. 

Out of 1,355 applicants, 299 people have been selected for this round. He informed that trainees will be provided a daily allowance of Rs. 75 for snacks, and the training will run for 5 hours daily.

The skills being provided this time include: Cook, Hair Cutting (Saloon), Basic Make-up/Hairdressing (Beauty Parlor), Electrical Wiring, Plumbing, Mobile Repair, Basic Computer, Cutting/Stitching, Boutique Design, Motorcycle Repair, Automobile, and Montessori Education.

The Vocational and Skill Development Training Centre reported the active participation of trainees, local representatives, institutional officials, and stakeholders at the event. 

The Gandaki Provincial Government has also committed to aggressively advance youth capacity building, job creation, and entrepreneurship promotion in the coming days.