SRINAGAR, Sept 10: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Thursday chaired the first UT-level Steering Committee meeting to review the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) scheme in Jammu and Kashmir, stressing the need to align skill training with industry requirements and emerging job opportunities.
Dulloo described PM-SETU as an important initiative to strengthen skill education in the Union Territory and said the upgradation of Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) should go beyond infrastructure development.
He stressed that the focus should be on creating an industry-aligned ecosystem that equips youth with skills leading to quality and well-paid employment.
The Chief Secretary also emphasised that industry partners involved in the initiative should contribute not only financially but also provide technology, domain expertise, modern training methods, industrial exposure and credible employment opportunities for trained youth.
He called for closer coordination among the Government, industry and training institutions in designing courses and training programmes based on actual market demand.
Secretary, Skill Development Department, Kumar Rajeev Ranjan, made a detailed presentation on the institutional architecture, funding pattern, upgradation plan and implementation roadmap of the scheme in J&K.
The Committee was informed that PM-SETU envisages an indicative investment of around Rs 482 crore over five years in J&K, with Rs 241 crore allocated for each hub-and-spoke cluster. Under the scheme, 10 Government ITIs will be upgraded into modern, industry-oriented skill institutions.
The ITIs will be organised into two hub-and-spoke clusters, with one Hub ITI in each administrative division serving as a central technology and resource centre for four Spoke ITIs.
The upgraded institutions will offer advanced technologies, modern training infrastructure, incubation facilities and capacity-building support for trainers. The scheme aims to achieve an institutional placement rate of 75 per cent.
A key feature of PM-SETU is its industry-led implementation framework. Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) will facilitate industry participation in institutional governance, course selection, technology adoption, training and placements, ensuring that courses remain demand-driven and aligned with changing market requirements.
Priority sectors include advanced and smart manufacturing, heavy engineering and automotive, electricals, electronics and telecom, process industries and food processing, textiles, garments, construction and building interiors, besides other emerging sectors with strong employment potential.
The financial structure provides for 74.7 per cent contribution from the Centre, 8.3 per cent from the UT Government and 17 per cent from Anchor Industry Partners.
Dulloo said the success of PM-SETU would ultimately be measured by its ability to create a steady pool of industry-ready skilled manpower and connect J&K youth with better employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.
