The Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications in Telangana has recently entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the 1M1B Foundation (One Million for One Billion). This collaboration aims to establish the first Green Skills Academy in Hyderabad, which will be the first of its kind in both the state of Telangana and India. The initiative, facilitated through the Telangana Academy for Skill and Knowledge (TASK), seeks to accelerate the adoption of green skills among college youth. The ultimate goal is to provide training to one million youths from Telangana by the year 2030. Additionally, the partnership will offer an annual opportunity for the top 10 youth to showcase their work at the 1M1B summit held at the United Nations in New York.

The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding took place at the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Telangana State Secretariat in Hyderabad. The ceremony was attended by representatives from the Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications, and the 1M1B teams. Jayesh Ranjan, IAS, the principal secretary of the Industries and Commerce (I&C) and Information Technology (IT) Departments of the Telangana Government, and Abhiram Natarajan, the director of Grassroots at 1M1B, were present to formalize the agreement.

"We are looking forward to our partnership with TASK with 1M1B in fulfilling our commitment to achieving the Net Zero mission. Every change begins with an individual or a family, and therefore, green skills must be taught to young minds. We will ensure our full support for 1M1B so that our youths are well-equipped with green skills and set an extraordinary example for the rest of the country and the world", Jayesh Ranjan, IAS, principal secretary, Information Technology, Electronics and Communications and Industries and Commerce Department, said.

As per the announcement, the 1M1B Green Skills Academy is developed for college students aged over 18. It is designed to equip the future workforce with the skillset, mindset and toolsets needed in a rapidly evolving green economy. The Green Skills Academy offers a unique blend of theoretical knowledge, projects, workplace experiences, internships and job readiness mentoring creating a dynamic learning environment. The Academy will further empower participants with a range of specialized skills like artificial intelligence, sustainable design, data analysis, and project management. By embedding real-world challenges into the learning process, the programme will nurture critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration abilities, all of which are crucial for success in green and sustainable career paths. The Green Skills Academy will benefit the youth through direct interactions with industry experts, mentors, and sustainability-focused organizations and provide guidance, mentorship, and potential employment opportunities.

"This pivotal partnership with One Million for One Billion (1M1B), we will be starting Telangana's Green Skills Academy- Leveraging AI and that is where our youth can be exposed to various skills that are required for the future. The structure of the program itself is very encouraging for us and with the support of 1M1B, we look forward to helping our students with skills related to green, empowerment, AI and Metaverse so that they are ready to not only face the world but also contribute to the leadership of this growing economy", Shrikant Sinha, CEO, Telangana Academy for Skill and Knowledge (TASK), said.