Andhra HRD Minister Lokesh asks officials to set targets for skill training

HRD Minister Nara Lokesh directs SEEDAP to set a target of employing one million youth annually. | Photo credit: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR

Andhra Pradesh HRD Minister Nara Lokesh emphasized that effective implementation of skill development programs helps in creating extensive employment opportunities for the youth, asked the officials to set short and long term targets for skill training and job creation. He also highlighted the effective use of the PM Internship Scheme for the benefit of the unemployed youth.

He presided over a review meeting with officials of the Skill Development Department at his Undavalli headquarters on Thursday.

Officials informed Mr. Lokesh that 5.43 lakh youth have so far secured job opportunities through skill development programmes.

Andhra Pradesh recorded 76% placement rate against the national average of 64%, the highest among large states, they said. The state also ranked second among the major states in the number of youth imparted skill training.

Job melas conducted across the state have helped 1,02,000 youth secure employment, while the Society for Employment Generation and Entrepreneurship Development of Andhra Pradesh (SEEDAP) has imparted skill training to 41,288 youth in 2024, they said.

Mr. Lokesh directed SEEDAP to set a target of employing one million youth annually. He also called for coordination between Overseas Manpower Company Andhra Pradesh (OMCAP) and SEEDAP to facilitate more overseas job opportunities for trained youth.

Officials said Andhra Pradesh ranked second after Uttar Pradesh in utilization of PM Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY). It has been decided to modernize all 192 PMKVY centers in the state.

Responding to officials informing him that under the PM-SETU programme, ITIs across the state have been divided into 18 clusters and that AM/NS (ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel) has been selected as the industrial partner for the Visakhapatnam cluster, Mr. Lokesh directed the officials to finalize the industrial partners for the remaining clusters as soon as possible.

Among those present were AP Education, Skill Development and Training Department Principal Secretary J. Shyamala Rao, AP State Skill Development Corporation Managing Director and CEO G. Ganesh Kumar and AP State Board of Higher Education In-charge Chairman S. Vijaya Bhaskar.

Published – 02 Oct 2026 10:29 IST