Centre approves Surat ITI Cluster under PM-SETU scheme
Surat, July 10 (TNT): The Centre has approved the Surat ITI Cluster under the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) scheme, marking one of the first major projects under the programme in Gujarat.
The approval was announced by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary during his visit to ITI Surat on Friday.
The cluster will be led by ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India) as the Anchor Industry Partner, with NAMTECH as its academic partner.
Speaking on the occasion, Chaudhary said the initiative reflected the government’s vision of making industry a co-creator of talent by aligning skill development with future employment needs.
Under the Hub-and-Spoke model, ITI Surat will function as the hub institute, supported by ITI Surat (Women), ITI Hajira, ITI Bardoli and ITI Sachin as spoke institutes.
The cluster aims to create an industry-driven skilling ecosystem catering to sectors such as advanced manufacturing, steel, engineering, process industries, textiles and Industry 4.0 technologies.
The approved Strategic Investment Plan envisages an outlay of about Rs 240 crore over five years for infrastructure upgradation, advanced laboratories and workshops, digital learning systems, smart classrooms, curriculum modernisation, faculty development and industry-led governance.
The project is expected to enrol around 25,000 trainees over five years and create 3,528 additional training seats through upgraded and newly introduced programmes.
It will also introduce new long-term courses aligned with emerging technologies and short-term industry-oriented programmes to improve employability and apprenticeship opportunities.
AM/NS India Executive Director and Deputy Chief Technology Officer Santosh Mundhada welcomed the approval and said the company remained committed to supporting India’s skill development agenda through industry-led partnerships and creating a future-ready talent pool.
The Union Ministry said the Surat cluster would serve as a model for collaborative skill development by combining government support, industry participation and academic expertise to meet the workforce requirements of a rapidly evolving economy.
PM-SETU is a flagship Central scheme with an outlay of Rs 60,000 crore, aimed at upgrading 1,000 government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and establishing five National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs) through an industry-led hub-and-spoke model.
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