NT Reporter
Panaji
The Directorate of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (DSDE) has floated a Request for Proposal (RFP) to select an agency for the Project Management Unit (PMU) to provide strategic support for implementing the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded Industrial Training Institutes (PM-SETU).
The agency will help structure and oversee the transformation of Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) into dynamic institutions aligned with the future needs of India’s economy.
“There is a pressing need for a comprehensive overhaul to better align these institutions with the demands of a rapidly growing economy. As India looks to expand its formal economy in the coming years, a larger pool of skilled and qualified workers will be essential,” the RFP document stated.
Goa has 10 government and three private ITIs functioning under DSDE, offering 44 engineering and non-engineering trades. By imparting industrial training, the ITIs ensure a steady supply of skilled workers to industry.
The document states that a thorough analysis of the existing ITI ecosystem, along with inputs from multiple parliamentary reports, indicates that efforts to enhance the capabilities of ITIs and NSTIs (National Skill Training Institutes) require more pragmatic, systemic and coordinated action.
“This transformation will necessitate a complete overhaul of infrastructure, ensuring modern facilities and state-of-the-art equipment to deliver industry-relevant training. Additionally, an improved governance structure is needed to streamline operations and enhance the effectiveness of these institutions. An enabling regulatory environment should be created that encourages industries to gradually take greater ownership of the outcomes produced by these training institutions,” it said.
The document added that the availability of qualified and skilled instructors must be ensured to maintain training quality and consistency, which are critical to meeting future labour market demands.
PM-SETU, a centrally sponsored scheme announced in the Union Budget 2024, has an outlay of Rs 60,000 crore (central share – Rs 30,000 crore, state share – Rs 20,000 crore and industry share – Rs 10,000 crore) for the upgradation of 1,000 ITIs under a hub-and-spoke model with an outcome-oriented focus.
The scheme proposes government-owned, industry-managed ITIs in collaboration with state governments and industry. Course content and design will be aligned with industry skill requirements, and new courses will be introduced in emerging areas such as IR 4.0 and green skills.
