Date: August 18, 2026
Venue: Forest Conference Hall, Deorali, Gangtok
68 day-long Green Skilling Course on “Solar Enterprise Assistant Manager” for 20 candidates begins at Gangtok
18 August 2026, Gangtok: The Environment Information, Awareness, Capacity Building and Livelihood Programme (EIACP) Hub of Forest and Environment Department inaugurated the Green Skill Development Programme (GSDP) 2026-27 on NCVET approved certificate course “Solar Enterprise Assistant Manager” for 20 candidates at Forest Conference Hall, Gangtok.
Over two month-long course on Solar Energy sector will be conducted at different part of the State, mostly at Gangtok District till the end of October 2026 under the expert guidance of resource persons from Renewable Energy Applications and Consultation in Himalayas (REACH) Sikkim, SREDA, SMIT, NEILIT and other GSDP master trainers. The course will comprehensively cover step-by-step methodology and design of on-grid, off-grid and hybrid solar PV systems for household and industrial use including site assessment, sizing, installation, testing, commissioning, operation and maintenance, with 120 hrs of theoretical classes, 180 hrs practical, 60 hrs of employability skills and 150 hrs of on-the-job training. The course is being taken up by 20 educated unemployed youths from different parts of the State.
The inaugural session was attended by Conservator of Forest (Environment & Soil Conservation) Suraj K Thatal IFS, Additional Director (EIACP) Kusum Gurung, officers from Sikkim EIACP, along with experts from REACH Sikkim.
Suraj K Thatal IFS in his inaugural address extended warm welcome to all the participants and encouraged them to take full advantage of livelihood opportunities through green skilling also promoting the branding of Sikkim as the Green State of India. He mentioned that the Green Skill Development Programme is being implemented in the State of Sikkim since 2019-20 under the aegis of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India. The programme aims to develop skilled workforce in renewable energy sectors such as Solar PV systems, a booming green job sector. In line with the Skill India Mission envisaged by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change utilizing the vast network and expertise of EIACP Centres across the country, has taken up an initiative for skill development in the environment and forest sector to enable India’s youth to get gainful employment and/or self-employment. He affirmed that the Green Skill Development Programme also contemplates the vision of Sunawlo, Samridhh Ani Samarth Sikkim as envisaged by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Sikkim. He also mentioned that Forest and Environment Department has been making continuous efforts to provide livelihood opportunities to interested local youths in the field of environment since 2019 successfully enrolling 565 candidates.
During the inaugural session, short videos on success stories from previous batches were screened. Training kits and tools to the trainees were also distributed which was followed by an orientation session by the Masters and Subject Experts.
