Highlighting that effective implementation of skill development programmes helps create large-scale employment opportunities for youth, Andhra Pradesh HRD Minister Nara Lokesh has asked officials to set short- and long-term targets for skill training and job creation. He also stressed the effective use of PM Internship Scheme to benefit unemployed youth.

He chaired a review meeting with the Skill Development Department officials at his Undavalli residence on Thursday.

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

Andhra Pradesh recorded a 76% placement rate, against the national average of 64%, making it the highest among major States, they said. The State also ranked second among major States in the number of youth provided skill training.

Job melas conducted across the State had helped 1.02 lakh youth secure employment, while the Society for Employment Generation and Enterprise Development in Andhra Pradesh (SEEDAP) provided skill training to 41,288 youth in 2024, they said.

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

Officials said Andhra Pradesh ranked second after Uttar Pradesh in utilisation of the PM Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY). It was decided to upgrade all 192 PMKVY centres in the State.

Responding to the officials who informed him that under the PM-SETU programme, ITIs across the State had been divided into 18 clusters and that AM/NS (ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel) had been selected as the industry partner for the Visakhapatnam cluster, Mr. Lokesh directed officials to finalise industry partners for the remaining clusters at the earliest.

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