Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated a specialised STEM and aviation training program across three educational institutions in Odisha’s Sambalpur district this Saturday. The initiative is designed to equip girl students with essential skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) while preparing them for professional careers in the aerospace industry.
The Union Education Minister emphasised that the integration of scientific knowledge and practical training would empower students to transform their aspirations into reality.
Launched on ‘National Girl Child Day’ during the ‘Jyotirgmay’ annual festival, the Boeing Sukanya Program seeks to bridge the gender gap in India’s rapidly expanding aviation sector.
Pradhan inaugurated the first phase of the program at the Chandrashekhar Behera (CSB) District School in Sambalpur.
“It is not just a science laboratory, but a powerful tool for our daughters to reach the sky,” Pradhan said while attending the annual festival ‘Jyotirgmay’.
In addition to the CSB District School, the union minister launched similar labs at Government High School in Kuchinda and Gourchandra High School in Redhakhol.
ସମ୍ବଲପୁରର ସିଏସବି ଜିଲ୍ଲା ସ୍କୁଲ ପରିସରରେ 'Boeing Sukanya Program STEM Lab' ର ଉଦଘାଟନ କଲି । ଏହି ଅଭିନବ ପ୍ରୟାସ ଆମ ଛାତ୍ରଛାତ୍ରୀମାନଙ୍କୁ ବିଜ୍ଞାନ, ପ୍ରଯୁକ୍ତିବିଦ୍ୟା ଓ ମହାକାଶ ବିଜ୍ଞାନ କ୍ଷେତ୍ରରେ ନୂତନ ଦିଗ ଦେଖାଇବ । ଏହି ଲ୍ୟାବ୍ କେବଳ ଏକ ଶିକ୍ଷା କେନ୍ଦ୍ର ନୁହେଁ, ବରଂ ଆମ ଛାତ୍ରଛାତ୍ରୀଙ୍କ ବଡ଼ ସ୍ୱପ୍ନକୁ ସାକାର… pic.twitter.com/S5LYYiiPNH
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) January 24, 2026
Pradhan said, “This lab will provide science along with aerospace-related education and training required to become a pilot. This initiative will ignite a new light of scientific thinking and innovation among our students, especially female students.”
The Minister projected that India’s aircraft fleet will grow to 15,000 within the next decade, creating a massive demand for pilots, engineers, and designers. He described these STEM labs as a critical milestone in preparing the next generation for these technical roles.
The STEM labs are equipped with experiential learning kits, digital resources, and hands-on modules focused on aviation and aero-modelling. Students from grades 6 to 10 will engage in workshops and activity-based learning, with opportunities to compete in regional and national STEM and aviation competitions.
“The Boeing Sukanya Program is grounded in the belief that equal access to education unlocks innovation,” said Salil Gupte, president, Boeing India and South Asia.
The Boeing Sukanya Program is being implemented in collaboration with the Learning Links Foundation (LLF), Boeing’s non-profit partner for education and vocational training in India.
Dr Anjlee Prakash, Chairperson, Learning Links Foundation, said, “These labs encourage students to explore, question and innovate, while also strengthening teacher capability and the broader school ecosystem. Our focus is to enable more students, especially girls, to pursue careers in STEM.”
As part of the programme launched in 2024 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Boeing and LLF continue to establish STEM labs in government schools across India.
The programme also offers scholarships to girls to pursue their dream of becoming pilots, helping build a strong talent pipeline to increase women’s participation in India’s aviation growth.
