LUCKNOW, May 13 -- As part of its efforts to transform Uttar Pradesh into the nation's "Skill Capital," a programme titled 'Samvad' (dialogue) was organised in Gorakhpur on Tuesday. Organised by the Uttar Pradesh Skill Development Mission, the event brought together representatives from the government, industry, private ITI operators, and training institutes for detailed discussions on employment-oriented and future-ready skill training for the youth, a spokesperson said. Kapil Dev Agarwal, minister of state (Independent Charge) for the department of vocational education, skill development, and entrepreneurship stressed that in today's era, the primary need is not just to provide academic degrees to the youth, but to equip them with employable skills that can ensure meaningful employment. He added that the state government is preparing young people for future demands by offering training based on modern technologies. He noted that the state government, through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Tata Technologies, has upgraded 150 government ITIs with modern technological infrastructure. These institutes now offer courses in emerging fields such as AI, drone technology, robotics, advanced design, and modern manufacturing. He further said that 62 more ITIs will soon be brought under the initiative, further boosting the state's technical education infrastructure. htc...