Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Jayant Chaudhary for approving ₹475.41 crore for upgrading Industrial Training Institute (ITI) clusters across Jammu and Kashmir.
The investment, approved under the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) scheme, covers two clusters centred on Jammu and Srinagar.
The Jammu ITI Cluster has been allocated ₹240 crore, with ITI Jammu as the hub and institutes at R.S. Pura, Nowshera, Samba and Kathua as spokes. The Srinagar ITI Cluster will receive ₹235.41 crore, with ITI Srinagar as the hub and institutes at Ganderbal, Kangan, Budgam and Charar-i-Sharief forming the spokes.
Abdullah said the initiative would strengthen industry linkages, promote outcome-based training and equip young people with skills aligned with evolving industry requirements and domestic and international employment demands.
He said the investment would help transform ITIs into modern skill development centres and make vocational training more responsive to changing economic needs and emerging job opportunities.
Under the hub-and-spoke model, the clusters are expected to upgrade training infrastructure, introduce contemporary courses and align curricula with the skills sought by employers.
The initiative is aimed at improving the employability of young people in Jammu and Kashmir and expanding their access to livelihood opportunities.
