Uttarakhand Inks Significant Agreements for Enhancing Social Progress, Digital Skills, and Artificial Intelligence Education
In a significant move for the state of Uttarakhand, the government has signed a 10-year agreement with Tata Trusts for holistic social development, focusing on areas like water management, nutrition, telemedicine, rural livelihoods, and green energy. This partnership also includes a focus on digital talent development, with the aim of transforming Uttarakhand into a leading digital talent hub.
The partnership was formalised at a signing ceremony attended by several key figures, including Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, SETU Commission Vice President Raj Shekhar Joshi, Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan, SETU Commission Director General Shatrughna Singh, and Sunil Dahiya, Executive Vice President of the foundation.
In addition to the agreement with Tata Trusts, the Uttarakhand government, Higher Education Department, and Technical Education Department entered into a partnership with NASSCOM Sector Skills Council/IT-ITES. This partnership will introduce AI, Data Science, Cybersecurity, Python, and Generative AI courses under the FutureSkills Prime platform. The goal is to skill 1.5 lakh students from public and private higher education institutions.
As part of this partnership, a model mentor college will be established per district. These colleges will integrate the new courses into the academic curriculum with credit recognition. The focus of the initiative is on preparing youth for both entrepreneurship and employment in emerging technologies.
Tata Trusts CEO Siddharth Sharma signed the MoU on behalf of the organization, aiming to improve socio-economic conditions across the state through community-driven sustainable solutions. The Chief Minister emphasized the goal of making Uttarakhand a leader in technology, AI, and inclusive growth.
The partnership also includes a Memorandum of Understanding signed by SETU Commission, Higher Education Department, and a foundation to introduce AI-based personality development and entrepreneurship among students. Abhilasha Gaur, Director General of NASSCOM Skill Council, was present at the signing ceremony.
While there is no detailed public record of a formal, long-term partnership with the state government and other organizations specifically aimed at social development and digital talent development, Tata Trusts are contributing to education and training initiatives in Uttarakhand.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the government's commitment to ensuring the well-being of all citizens, especially the underprivileged. This partnership is a significant step towards achieving this goal, as it aims to provide opportunities for digital empowerment and socio-economic improvement to the people of Uttarakhand. A foundation is also set to launch an AI-based personality development program in universities, further enhancing the digital talent development initiatives in the state.
The partnership between the Uttarakhand government and Tata Trusts expands to encompass digital talent development, aiming to transform Uttarakhand into a leading hub for digital talent. This includes the introduction of advanced courses in AI, Data Science, Cybersecurity, Python, and Generative AI.
In the realm of education and self-development, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed to incorporate AI-based personality development and entrepreneurship among students, further enhancing digital talent development initiatives in the state.
