Rairangpur, Baripada, (01/01) Her Excellency the President of India, Mrs. Draupadi Murmu has inaugurated the IGNOU Regional Center and Sahakhyam Center at Rairangpur through Virtual. Union Minister of Education Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Education Department (Special Charge) Shri Jayant Chowdhury and IGNORE Vice-Chancellor Professor Uma Kanjilal were present on the main stage in the meeting organized on the occasion of this historic event. Inauguration of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) Regional Center and Skill Center at Rairangpur will be considered as a milestone in the history of education and skill development in India. The establishment of this center in Rairangpur, a tribal chiefdom of Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district, has opened new doors of opportunity for the local youth, working people, housewives and the underprivileged. Through this, along with higher education through open and distance education system, it will be possible for people to receive skill training easily, said the Honorable President in his speech. He further said that education is the basic foundation of building a strong and united nation. IGNOPRI Institute is playing a very important role in reaching the remote and tribal areas of the country with higher education and skill development facilities. He stressed the need for digital education, online courses and skill training, saying that such education systems would help the youth to become self-reliant. Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan said in his speech that according to the National Education Policy 2020, the main goal of the government is to make education more accessible, easy and skill-oriented. Setting up of IGNOU Regional Center and Competence Center located at Rairangpur is an important step in realizing this vision. He also mentioned that through this center the youth can contribute to the economic development of the country by learning employment-oriented skills. Union Minister of State (Special Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Education Shri Jayant Chowdhury highlighted the role of speech technology. He said that through the Digital India campaign, access to internet and digital facilities in every village has increased the opportunities for education and skill development. Organizations like IGNOU are using this digital connectivity to reach the last human being in the country, he said. IGNOU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Uma Kanjilal in her speech said that the main objective of IGNOU is to provide comprehensive, consistent and quality education. By setting up a new regional center and skill center at Rairangpur, students of Keonjhar, Balswar, Bhadrak and Jajpur districts including Mayurbhanj district can receive degree, diploma, certificate courses as well as skill training in agriculture, digital technology, health, entrepreneurship etc. Overall, the virtual inauguration of the IGNOU Regional Center and Skill Center at Rairangpur is a historic initiative that will empower the local people through education and skill development. It will be marked as an important milestone in realizing the country’s dream of “Education for All” and “Skilled India”. The inauguration of the Regional Center and Skill Center is a historic step for higher education and skill development in the region. It will provide students with quality education, distance learning facilities and employability skills training. This center will empower the regional youth and help in fulfilling the national education goals. Manoj Kumar Das, Senior Regional Director, Indira Gandhi National University (IGNOU) Regional Centre, Rairangpur said in his address. To commemorate the launch, Mr. Ganesh Ramsingh Khuntia, Hon’ble Minister for Climate, Department of Forest, Environment and Climate Change, Government of Odisha attended the event under the supervision of Dr. Manoj Das, Senior Director, Rairangpur IGNOU Regional Center at Rairangpur Municipal Kalyan Mandap. Naik, Sarasakana MLA Bhadav Hasda, District Magistrate Hemkant Say, District Security Officer Varun Guntupalli were prominently present. The guests opined that as a result of the opening of these two centers, the quality of education will be developed and non-matric students, mothers and sisters can also improve in the professional field and become profitable and contribute to the economic growth of the region. Rairangpur Upazilapal Mr. Soumyaranjan Pradhan, Additional District Collector Mr. Sucharu Kumar Bal, Additional Security Officer Yadunath Jena, Tehsildar Viswanath Biswal, Upkhand Security Officer Gokulanand Sahu, senior BJP leader Naveen Ram, Sanjeev Mohanty, Shibu Agarwal, Surat Patnaik and other persons were present in the program held here.