Andhra Pradesh HRD Minister Nara Lokesh urged state officials to establish short- and long‑term targets for skill training and job creation during a review meeting held at his Undavalli residence. He highlighted the importance of effective implementation of skill development programmes for generating large‑scale employment opportunities for youth.
Officials reported that 5.43 lakh young people have secured employment through skill development initiatives, with the state achieving a 76% placement rate—higher than the national average of 64% and the best among major states. Job melas across Andhra Pradesh helped 1.02 lakh youths find work, while the Society for Employment Generation and Enterprise Development in Andhra Pradesh (SEEDAP) trained 41,288 youths in 2024. Mr. Lokesh directed SEEDAP to set a target of employing one lakh youths annually and called for coordination between SEEDAP and the Overseas Manpower Company Andhra Pradesh (OMCAP) to expand overseas employment opportunities.
The minister also addressed the utilisation of the PM Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), noting that Andhra Pradesh ranked second after Uttar Pradesh. It was decided to upgrade all 192 PMKVY centres in the state. Under the PM‑SETU programme, ITIs were divided into 18 clusters, and ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel was selected as the industry partner for the Visakhapatnam cluster. Mr. Lokesh instructed officials to finalise industry partners for the remaining clusters promptly.
Attendees at the meeting included A.P. Education, Skill Development and Training Department Principal Secretary J. Shyamala Rao, A.P. State Skill Development Corporation Managing Director and CEO G. Ganesh Kumar, and A.P. State Council of Higher Education Chairman S. Vijaya Bhaskar.
