Nagpur has been strategically positioned at the heart of Maharashtra's renewed focus on skills and employment generation. The city has been chosen as one of the inaugural districts for the implementation of PM SETU, the Central government's flagship program designed to revitalize industrial training institutes and forge stronger connections between skill development and job opportunities.
Cabinet Approval and Program Structure
The decision was finalized during a cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The meeting greenlit the first phase of PM SETU, which stands for Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs, across three districts: Nagpur, Pune, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The program's core mission is to bridge the persistent gap between the demand for and supply of skilled manpower by modernizing infrastructure, updating curricula, and strengthening industry linkages at ITIs throughout the state.
Nagpur's Hub-and-Spoke Model
Under this innovative framework, Govt ITI Nagpur will be developed as the central hub institute. It will operate within a hub-and-spoke model, with several surrounding institutes functioning as spokes. These include:
- Girls' ITI Nagpur
- ITI Kamptee
- ITI Hingna
- ITI Butibori
The hub institute will anchor advanced training facilities and industry-linked programs, while the spoke institutes will benefit from comprehensive upgrades, including new courses and enhanced training standards.
Course Introduction and Upgradation Plan
The approved framework outlines a clear strategy for course development. Each designated hub ITI, including the one in Nagpur, will introduce an average of four new courses and upgrade ten existing ones. Concurrently, each spoke ITI will add two new courses and upgrade eight existing programs. In regions where industrial presence is limited, the program will strategically shift its focus towards service-sector, multi-skill, and livelihood-oriented courses to directly improve local employability outcomes.
Implementation Timeline and Funding Model
State officials have confirmed that the phased implementation of PM SETU across Maharashtra is scheduled to commence next year. The funding structure follows a tripartite model, ensuring shared financial responsibility:
- 50% support from the Union Government
- 33% contribution from the State Government
- 17% investment from industry partners
Financial Outlay for Nagpur Cluster
For each cluster, which comprises one hub ITI and four spoke ITIs, the estimated expenditure over a five-year period stands at ₹241 crore. This substantial investment is broken down as follows:
- ₹112 crore from the Central Government
- ₹98 crore from the State Government
- ₹31 crore from industry contributions
The state cabinet has already approved Maharashtra's share of ₹98 crore for the initial five-year cycle, signaling strong governmental commitment to the initiative's success.
Strategic Objectives and Expected Impact
The PM SETU program represents a significant step towards transforming the vocational education landscape in Maharashtra. By concentrating resources in key hubs like Nagpur and employing a structured upgrade model, the government aims to create a more responsive and industry-aligned skilling ecosystem. The ultimate goal is to equip the youth with relevant, modern skills that directly translate into improved employment prospects, thereby addressing one of the state's critical economic challenges.
