NEW DELHI: A Rs 440-crore overhaul will put a steelmaker at the helm of nine government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh, giving industry a direct role in shaping what students learn and how they train. ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India) will hold a 51% stake in the entities that will manage the institutes under PM-SETU.The skill development ministry on Monday announced the signing of shareholders’ agreements covering five ITIs in Surat and four in Visakhapatnam. Of the approved investment, Rs 240 crore is earmarked for the Surat cluster and Rs 200 crore for Visakhapatnam. The agreements bring together the Centre, the two state governments and AM/NS India.Skill development secretary Debashree Mukherjee said the agreements marked the beginning of the institutions’ transformation. “Our goal is not only to upgrade infrastructure, but to elevate aspirations, quality and outcomes across the skilling ecosystem,” she said. Citing India’s recent top-10 finish at WorldSkills in Shanghai, she also called for the upgraded institutions to nurture future champions.Dedicated entities, called special purpose vehicles, will now be established to manage the modernisation and operations of the two clusters. Alongside AM/NS India’s majority stake, the Centre and the respective state government will hold 24.5% equity each.The agreements clear the way for implementing investment plans already approved under the scheme. Together, the two projects account for nearly 13% of the Rs 3,446 crore in proposed investment approved across PM-SETU’s first 14 strategic investment plans.For students, the planned changes include modern workshops and laboratories, new trades linked to emerging technologies, revised courses and more practical training. Instructor training will also be strengthened, with the ministry expecting these measures to improve graduates’ readiness for employment.AM/NS India will implement the projects with New Age Makers’ Institute of Technology (NAMTECH) as its academic and technical partner. While the steelmaker will bring manufacturing expertise, NAMTECH will support curriculum changes, teaching methods and faculty development.
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PM-SETU has a total outlay of Rs 60,000 crore and aims to upgrade 1,000 government ITIs and strengthen five National Skill Training Institutes. Its broader funding framework provides for Rs 30,000 crore from the Centre, Rs 20,000 crore from states and Rs 10,000 crore from industry.
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