Lokesh highlighted that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s vision is to secure international job opportunities for the State’s youth-mirroring the 1990s IT boom that led to 30% of Indian IT professionals abroad being Telugu.
“Now, we’re focusing on AI, ML, quantum technologies, and healthcare placements globally,” he added.
The Minister also stressed the importance of women’s empowerment, stating:
“Financial independence brings social change. We are supporting women through schemes like Stree Shakti and Deepam-2, revising the KG-to-PG curriculum to promote gender respect, and discouraging films that denigrate women.”
Lokesh presented the students with tablets to support their professional work abroad and encouraged them to mentor others aspiring for overseas careers.
The nursing graduates, many from poor SC and BC families, shared emotional stories of transformation. While they were previously earning Rs 15,000-Rs 20,000 locally, they have now secured jobs in Germany with monthly salaries of around Rs 2.8 lakh. Private consultancies had demanded up to Rs 8 lakh for similar training, but CEDAP provided it entirely free, including German language instruction (A1-B2), accommodation, food, and study materials.
CEDAP Chairman Gunipati Deepak Reddy, AP Skill Development Corporation MD Ganesh Kumar, Skill International Activities Advisor Seetha Sharma, and other senior officials attended the programme.