With major infrastructure projects on the horizon, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands staked their claim as an emerging hub for skill-driven growth at the Southern Regional Workshop of Kaushal Manthan, organised by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) in Hyderabad on Sunday.
Lt. Governor D K Joshi, who also serves as Vice Chairman of the Islands Development Agency, led the delegation from the UT and outlined a roadmap linking local skilling efforts with national economic goals. Joshi presented the islands as a promising zone for investment, especially in fisheries, tourism, marine products, hospitality, and port infrastructure, all poised to benefit from upcoming mega projects.
Big Push for Island-Based Skill Models
The workshop, chaired by Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Jayant Chaudhary, set the tone for a decentralised and contextual approach to training. Chaudhary said that “skill development cannot have prescriptive templates,” and called for States and UTs to build systems based on local realities.
Andaman’s pitch came at a time when the Centre is doubling down on skilling infrastructure. The Minister announced two new Centres of Excellence, part of a national five-centre rollout, at National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) in Hyderabad and Chennai. These will offer advanced training for instructors and tailor skilling programmes to new-age sectors.
As part of standardisation, the Minister proposed making the Craft Instructor Training Scheme (CITS) certification mandatory for all new instructors, especially in newly launched ITIs. States were asked to align their recruitment rules with national norms to ensure quality training across regions.
Investment, Jobs, and Local Aspirations
During his presentation, Joshi highlighted how the Andaman administration is aligning flagship entrepreneurship schemes with sector-specific skills to create local jobs. He emphasised the untapped potential in island industries like marine products, eco-tourism, and logistics.
The workshop also focused on creating robust grading systems for state-owned ITIs and encouraged states to raise awareness about the importance of vocational training through district-level platforms like DISHA meetings. The Minister stressed building industry linkages and incorporating multilingual training to boost global employability of Indian youth.
The Andaman delegation interacted with ITI representatives from across the southern region, underscoring the importance of capacity-building in remote geographies.
Youth, Infrastructure, and Economic Equity
With over ₹72,000 crore earmarked for Great Nicobar’s development under the Centre’s “holistic” plan, including a Greenfield airport and transshipment port, the islands are preparing for a major economic shift. The administration sees skill development as key to ensuring local communities benefit from these changes without displacement or exclusion.
The Hyderabad workshop underlined the government’s renewed push to equip India’s youth with relevant, high-quality skills while integrating backward regions like the Andamans into the national growth narrative.
As the Centre eyes long-term gains from skilling investments, the islands’ pitch, rooted in strategic location, rich marine resources, and tourism potential, could position the UT as a model for region-specific workforce development.
