Dehradun: In a major step toward transforming Uttarakhand into a digitally skilled and socially empowered state, three landmark Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed at the Secretariat on Wednesday in the presence of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.
MoU with Tata Trusts for Holistic Social Development
The Government of Uttarakhand, the State Institute for Empowering and Transforming Uttarakhand (SETU) Commission, and Tata Trusts signed a 10-year agreement to collaborate on various social development initiatives. Areas of focus include water management, nutrition, telemedicine, rural livelihoods, and green energy.
CEO of Tata Trusts Siddharth Sharma signed the MoU on behalf of the organization. This long-term partnership aims to uplift socio-economic conditions across the state by leveraging community-driven, sustainable solutions.
Uttarakhand to Become a Digital Talent Hub via NASSCOM Partnership
In a separate tripartite MoU, SETU Commission, the Department of Higher Education, and the Department of Technical Education joined hands with NASSCOM/IT-ITES Sector Skill Council. The initiative is focused on turning Uttarakhand into a leading digital talent hub.
Key highlights–
- Introduction of AI, Data Science, Cybersecurity, Python, and Generative AI courses under the FutureSkills Prime platform.
- Integration of these courses into the academic curriculum with credit recognition.
- Establishment of one mentor model college per district.
- Target to skill 1.5 lakh students across government and private higher education institutions.
CEO of NASSCOM Skill Council Abhilasha Gaur was present during the signing.
Wadhwani Foundation to Launch AI-Based Personality Development in Colleges
A third MoU was signed between the SETU Commission, Department of Higher Education, and the Wadhwani Foundation to introduce AI-enabled personality development and self-employment skills for students.
This three-year initiative aims to benefit around 1.2 lakh students, starting from the upcoming academic session. The focus will be on preparing youth for both entrepreneurship and employment in emerging technologies.
Sunil Dahiya, Executive VP of Wadhwani Foundation, represented the foundation at the signing ceremony.
CM Dhami: “Uttarakhand is Preparing for a Future-Ready Workforce”
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami lauded the MoUs as transformative for the state’s development. He said, “These agreements mark a strategic move towards social upliftment, building a digitally competent workforce, and instilling 21st-century skills in our youth. We aim to make Uttarakhand a leading state in technology, AI, and inclusive growth.”
He also emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring the welfare of every citizen, especially those at the grassroots.
Key Dignitaries Present
- Cabinet Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat
- Vice Chairman, SETU Commission: Raj Shekhar Joshi
- Chief Secretary: Anand Bardhan
- SETU Commission CEO: Shatrughna Singh
- Senior officials: Radhika Jha, Nitesh Jha, Chandresh Yadav, V Shanmugam, C Ravishankar
- Representatives from Tata Trusts, NASSCOM, and Wadhwani Foundation
