Dharmendra slams Odisha for not utilising central funds for skill development

Bhubaneswar: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday launched a scathing attack on the Odisha government alleging that it is not being able to use crores of rupees being sanctioned by the Central government to impart skill development training to lakhs of youths in the State.

If the Naveen-government thinks that by publishing big advertisements highlighting false achievements can enhance skills among the youths in the State then there's nothing to say, he added.

Refuting the allegations of Pradhan, BJD said that Pradhan's statements against the State government are politically-motivated.

"The Centre is forcefully trying to impose its programmes on the States which we are unable to accept. With political motive and competition in mind, the Central government is doing all this," alleged BJD spokesperson, Amar Satpathy.

Earlier today, Pradhan laid the foundation stone for the National Skill Training Institute at Barang. The institute is all set to come up at a whopping cost of Rs 160 crore and will have state-of-the-art facilities to impart skill development training to youths in Odisha.