Industry participation process starts in Govt ITI clusters

of Kanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Prayagraj and

Agra

Clusters will be developed in collaboration with anchor

industry partners, with emphasis on increasing industry participation from

training to placements

Lucknow, 23 Sept (HS): Under the leadership of Chief

Minister Yogi Adityanath, the Uttar Pradesh government is taking another major

step towards linking youth skill development with the actual needs of

industries. Under the central government's Prime Minister's Skilling and Employability

Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) scheme, the state's state

industrial training institutes (ITIs) are being developed as industry-led skill

development centers. In the first phase, the process of ensuring industry

participation in state ITI clusters in eight cities across the state: Kanpur,

Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Prayagraj, and Agra is

underway. The plan aims to bridge the gap between ITI training and the current

and future skill needs of industries. To achieve this, industries will be

integrated as active partners in the training system, rather than merely as

employers. Industries will play a role in updating curriculum and training

standards, incorporating modern technology and equipment, improving the quality

of training, and even training instructors. This will focus on providing youth

with skills that are directly in demand by industries.

Kapil Dev Agarwal, Minister of State (Independent Charge)

for Vocational Education, Skill Development, and Entrepreneurship, stated that

for the implementation of PM-Setu in Uttar Pradesh, the Yogi government has

initiated steps to connect state-run ITI clusters in Kanpur, Muzaffarnagar,

Meerut, Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Prayagraj, and Agra with industries. The process

of identifying and securing the participation of Anchor Industry Partners

(AIPs) for these clusters has been initiated. The government's intention is to

train youth in a way that is consistent with the industrial landscape of these

cities and local employment needs. This will enable a better alignment between

the skills of ITI graduates and the needs of local industries.

The hallmark of the PM-Setu model is the direct involvement

of industry. An anchor industry partner has been established for each cluster.

Anchor industry partners will work with the state government to update training

standards, develop curriculum tailored to industry needs, and modernize the

training system. Industry will also participate in activities such as the

availability of modern machinery and equipment, training of trainers,

apprenticeships, on-the-job training, placement linkages, and RLP capacity

building. This means that the entire system, from admission to ITIs to training

and employment, will be integrated with industry.

Industry participation is being invited to identify Anchor

Industry Partners in Uttar Pradesh. Eligible industries, public sector

undertakings (PSUs), industry associations, and other organizations with more

than 200 employees are eligible to participate. Selection will prioritize the

industry's role in the cluster's industrial and skill needs. The government

aims to develop each cluster in accordance with existing industries and

potential employment opportunities.

Under PM-Setu, an investment of approximately Rs. 60,000

crore is envisaged over the next five years for the transformation of

government ITIs across the country. The central government's share is Rs. 30,000

crore, state governments' Rs. 20,000 crore, and industry's Rs. 10,000 crore.

Thus, the central government's share in the investment will be 50 percent,

states' 33 percent, and industries' approximately 17 percent. The plan

envisages developing approximately 1,000 government ITIs across the country

using a hub-and-spoke model. These will include approximately 200 hub ITIs and

800 spoke ITIs.

Under PM-Setu, state ITIs will be developed as clusters

rather than as individual institutions. A hub-and-spoke approach will connect

institutions within a geographic or industrial cluster to form an integrated

skill development ecosystem. Hub ITIs will be developed with robust

infrastructure, modern equipment, industry linkages, and training development

facilities. Connecting other spoke ITIs will enhance access and quality of

training. This will enable the use of expensive equipment, laboratories, expert

instructors, and other resources across multiple ITIs, rather than being

confined to a single institution.

Through this model, the Yogi government plans to directly

link ITI training to employment, rather than limiting it to classrooms and

certifications. Industry involvement will help provide students with more

opportunities for apprenticeships and on-the-job training. Industries will be

involved in identifying training needs, developing curriculum tailored to regional

requirements, and providing employment to trained human resources. This is

expected to help establish direct connections between trained youth and

industries.

The state government has also initiated a process to

identify industries and MSMEs in the respective districts, establish dialogue

with them, and encourage them to participate in PM-Setu. With the support of

the district administration, emphasis has been placed on reaching out to local

industries and connecting them with the scheme. The goal of this entire

exercise is to strengthen the ITI-industry ecosystem in the state, to better

coordinate training and employment, and to provide youth with employable

skills.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi