Bhubaneswar: Odisha government today signed MoUs with nine different agencies and organisations having expertise in training youths in different skill development to impart vocational training in the state.

"We target to impart vocational training to 1.7 lakh young boys and girls this year in order to make them self sufficient," Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said while attending the MoU signing ceremony held here.

Stating that the state needed to train at least one million youths during the 12th plan period, Patnaik asked the trainers to target the youths in Maoist-hit districts. The objective of imparting trainig to tribal youths was to discourage them from joining maoist outfits.

The training would be imparted in textiles/apparel, manufacturing, construction, driving, health and paramedics, security guards, hospitality, IT/ITES, retail/sales, banking and insurance sectors, said Usha Padhee, director State Employment Mission.