Neha Sakka, an engineer from Udaipur was conferred the National Education Award 2022 at the National Youth Parliament and National Award Ceremony 2022 held on 12 August at New Delhi.

The National Youth Parliament and National Awards Ceremony 2022 was organized jointly by National Youth Awards Federation of India, World Youth Organization and National Youth Forum of India on 12th August 2022 at New Maharashtra Sadan, New Delhi on the occasion of International Youth Day. On this occasion, fifty people from across the country were selected and awarded across various categories, viz. education, social service, youth activism, environmen, arts, etc). The Chief Guest of the function was Mahindra Nath Pandey, Hon'ble Minister, Department of Heavy Industries, Government of India.

Neha Sakka, an Electrical Engineer, is working hard to create awareness towards developing a skilled work force in the Electric Vehicle industry by providing free training to youth under her "Trust EV Awareness Oath: Empowering Youth and Women" program.

The program helps undergraduates and post graduates to develop basic skill-sets required in the EV (Electric Vehicle) industry and also spreads awareness among school students about the environmental and economic benefits of electric vehicles. Her perspective is to facilitate understanding on Electric Vehicle Technology among students at a very early stage.

Trust EV and Main Purpose

In an interaction with Udaipur Times, Neha explained that the Electric Vehicle industry in India is still at a nascent stage. India needs more and more skilled researchers, innovative thinkers and developers in various fields of EV industry to realize the “India 30@30” mission, for which the youth of the country need skill sets and a focused thought process. Early awareness and facilitating a yougn development process is an important step. She added that the youth of the country are the major stakeholders of the EV industry, because the development of our country for the next 20 years depends on the skill development of today's youth. Electric vehicle education plays an important role in developing this skill, but Electric Vehicle education is very expensive for students. This is a big challenge in EV education for the youth, which hinders the path of EV success in our country.

Neha further added that she started the Trust EV program to educate the students free of cost and to inculcate the passion for electric vehicles in the hearts of the students. Under this campaign, from May 14, 2022 till date, she has provided free education worth Rs 7.5 lakh. Neha has a high aim of creating a strong, young workforce in the Electric Vehicle Industry in India through free training under the Trust EV Awareness Oath: Empowering Youth and Women program, so that India is empowered in its economy by not only getting rid of the captivity of Petrol, Oil, Gas to a large extent but also to play a vital role in making the Indian youth recognized as a treasure trove of skilled workforce in EV in the global market.

Neha Sakka hails from Udaipur, Rajasthan and is currently working as an Electrical Engineer in Jaipur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited. She completed her engineering from College of Technology and Agriculture Engineering (CTAE) Udaipur and did her schooling from St. Gregorius Senior Secondary School Udaipur. She specifically mentioned told that she is the first female Engineer from her community and prefers to be identified as the granddaughter of Latif Bhai Chakki Wale, because living in a conservative society, this impossible feat is due to the efforts and hard work of her grandfather who was determined to educate his granddaughter even amidst resistance from the boundations of an orthodox community.

Higlighting climate change, Neha said that pollution is the biggest catalyst. Poisonous gases emanating from vehicles have a substantial contribution in pollution, which can be reduced by the use of electric vehicles. To achieve a big dream of saving the environment of the earth, she started this training in the field of electric vehicles to imbibe a passion for electric vehicles in the hearts of the youth. She firmly believes that every student is different and has unique talents. These talents are needed in the EV industry, so that this industry can flourish well. Neha Sakka believes that the youth does not need jobs in the electric vehicle industry, but the electric vehicle industry needs the unique talent of the youth.

The award ceremony was attended by Ramdas Athawale, Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment; Dr. Bhagwat Karade, Minister of State for Finance, Faggan Singh Kulaste, Minister of State for Rural Development & Steel and Amolak Ratan Kohli, Hon'ble former Governor of Mizoram. The special guests and ministers had words of praise for the awardees efforts, that have encouraged them to continue with their good work.