Shillong, June 30: Meghalaya moved to put industry in the driver’s seat of its ITI revamp today, with the Directorate of Employment & Craftsmen Training rolling out the PM-SETU outreach at the State Convention Centre.
The Industry Awareness & Outreach Programme drew MSDE officials, RDSDE, state departments, PSUs, MSMEs, startups, and industry leaders from across India. The pitch: let industry run ITIs to match skills with real jobs.
Principal Secretary Frederick R. Kharkongor, IAS, told stakeholders that skill development now hinges on government-industry partnerships. He pushed for industry-led curriculum, more apprenticeships, and direct hiring links to bridge the gap between ITI graduates and market demand.
DECT Director Richa Kulkarni, IAS, called the event “step one” in building a robust industry ecosystem under PM-SETU. The aim is to convert government ITIs into modern, industry-led centres churning out employable, future-ready youth.
Presentations laid out the Anchor Industry Partner model, where companies will help govern ITIs. Industry reps responded with ideas on apprenticeships, curriculum tweaks, and workforce planning.
With PM-SETU, Meghalaya wants ITIs to become centres of excellence that boost employability, fuel entrepreneurship, and feed the state’s growing industrial landscape.
