Patna: A delegation of senior Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officers visited Bihar’s Labour Resources Department on Tuesday, lauding the state’s multifaceted efforts to uplift workers and skill the youth. The visit, held at the Manthan Auditorium in Niyojan Bhawan, was marked by presentations and discussions on Bihar’s expansive social welfare programmes and skill development strategies.
Department Secretary Deepak Anand and Special Secretary Alok Kumar formally welcomed the delegation, offering a bouquet and memento to mark the occasion. Senior officials from across the department were present to engage with the guests.
During the session, IFS officers received a detailed briefing on 16 key welfare schemes run by the Bihar State Other Construction Workers Welfare Board. These range from labourer registration to financial aid for healthcare, housing, education, and accident insurance.
Further insights were shared on landmark training and employment schemes including the Kushal Yuva Programme, Domain Skilling, Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), RTD, Financial Accounting training, and the Migrant Labour Accident Scheme. A demonstration of the Migrant Labourer-Kamgar App showed how digital tools are being used to connect workers with services and streamline benefits.
The delegation showed particular interest in the Centre of Excellence (CoE) established at the Government Industrial Training Institute (ITI) in Digha, developed in partnership with Tata Technologies. The centre offers advanced technical training and state-of-the-art facilities, preparing youth for high-demand careers. Officers toured the classrooms, workshops, and modern infrastructure, and inquired about transparency in registration, verification, and benefit delivery systems.
Senior officials including Sunil Kumar Yadav (Director, Planning and Training), Suresh Kumar Singh (Mission Director, Bihar Skill Development Mission), Ganesh Jha (Assistant Labour Commissioner), and Amrita Kumari (Assistant Director) were part of the delegation’s interactions.
The visit, officials said, served not just as an introduction to Bihar’s labour and skilling framework, but also as a platform for knowledge exchange. The IFS officers commended Bihar’s model as a dynamic, tech-driven approach to empowering its workforce and bridging skill gaps.
