GORAKHPUR, May 13 -- In a major push towards skill development, minister of state for vocational education and skill development, Kapil Dev Agarwal, on Tuesday said the government is committed to empowering youth through skill-based education and creating meaningful employment opportunities across multiple sectors. Addressing a "Samvad" programme organised by the UP Skill Development Mission in Gorakhpur, the minister said the government is now focusing on a "skill to employment" model aimed at ensuring jobs alongside training. "Youth today need employable skills, not just degrees. Training institutes must prepare them according to industry demands so they can secure jobs easily," he said. During a high-level meeting, the minister urged government officials, private ITI operators, training partners and industry representatives from the Gorakhpur, Basti, and Ayodhya divisions to deliberate on employment-oriented and future-ready skilling programmes. Emphasising the importance of vocational education, Agarwal said: "Skill development institutions are the foundation of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Today, the need is not merely for degrees but for employable skills." He added that the state government has partnered with Tata Technologies to modernise 150 government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), where courses in Artificial Intelligence, drone technology, robotics, advanced design, and modern manufacturing are being introduced. The minister also urged officials and ITI managements to work towards positioning UP as a powerhouse of skilled manpower by expanding employment-oriented vocational education programmes, with special emphasis on technology-driven learning and direct industry participation. Agarwal said the government is working to bridge the gap between education and employment by preparing youth for rapidly changing industrial demands. He also outlined a plan to transform the state into a national "Skill Hub" through industry-linked training, AI education and large-scale employment initiatives. htc...