Bhubaneswar, May 2: Marking Labour Day, a major initiative has been announced for construction workers in Odisha, offering them access to higher education alongside their jobs. Workers in the construction sector will soon be able to pursue studies and earn a three-year Bachelor of Vocation (B.Voc) degree.

The announcement was made by Construction Industry Development Council (CIDC) Director General P.R. Swarup during his visit to Bhubaneswar. He informed that an MoU will soon be signed with a university in Odisha to roll out the programme, likely from July.

The initiative aims to formalize the skills of workers by linking their practical experience with academic qualifications. Odisha, known for its large pool of skilled labourers, will benefit from this move as workers will receive recognised degrees for their expertise.

Highlighting the need, Swarup said that after agriculture, the construction sector is the largest employment generator in the country. However, a shortage of skilled manpower continues to impact the quality of infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, houses, and hospitals. While the demand stands at around 12.5 crore workers, only about 2.5 crore are currently engaged in the sector.

To bridge this gap, CIDC has partnered with seven universities across the country and has already awarded over 1,900 workers with B.Voc degrees in the past two years. Other workers are also being trained and certified based on their skill levels.

In addition, CIDC continues to recognise excellence in the sector through the Vishwakarma Awards, honouring outstanding workers, companies, and government officials. The initiative is expected to boost both the quality of construction work and the socio-economic status of workers.