Workshop on Bridging Skills Gap and Empowering Marginalised Communities Held in Patna

Chirag Gupta

Patna: A two-day workshop titled “Empowering Marginalised Communities by Bridging the Skills Gap: Strategies for Inclusive Upgradation & Employability in Bihar” began today in Patna. The event is a collaboration between the University of Reading in the United Kingdom and the Asian Development Research Institute (ADRI).

Dr. Andrew Fleming, British Deputy High Commissioner to East & North-East India, was the Guest of Honour at the event. He highlighted that 58% of Bihar’s population is under 25 years old and emphasised that with the right skills, especially in Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), the state can achieve economic success in the future.

Professor Ritwik Banerjee from IIM-Bengaluru delivered a presentation on the impact of caste bias in education, focusing on the mental health of schoolchildren in Bihar. He stressed the importance of measuring and addressing mental health issues among children, noting that mental illness is prevalent in the state and that teachers play a significant role in its impact.

In his Welcome Address, Professor Ajit Sinha, Director of ADRI, spoke about the rapid changes in technology and the need to adapt to prevent obsolescence in the workforce. Dr. Ashmita Gupta, Member-Secretary of ADRI, discussed the occupational rigidities in Bihar’s labour market and the need for targeted skill development programs to address these gaps.

The inaugural session was followed by two technical sessions, with attendees including academicians, researchers, policymakers, and civil society members from both India and abroad. The session concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Dr. Gupta.