Srinagar, Oct 17 (JKNS): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Jayant Chaudhary for approving Strategic Investment Plans (SIPs) worth ₹475.41 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) scheme to upgrade key Industrial Training Institute (ITI) clusters across the Union Territory.
As per the details available with news agency JKNS, the investment will cover two major ITI clusters, one each in Jammu and Srinagar, with a combined outlay of ₹475.41 crore.
Jammu ITI Cluster: ₹240 Crore
The Jammu ITI Cluster has been allocated ₹240 crore under the Strategic Investment Plan. ITI Jammu will serve as the hub, while four other institutes will function as spoke institutions under the hub-and-spoke model.
The cluster will comprise ITI Jammu as the hub, with ITIs at R.S. Pura, Nowshera, Samba and Kathua as spokes.
Srinagar ITI Cluster: ₹235.41 Crore
The Srinagar ITI Cluster has been approved an investment of ₹235.41 crore. ITI Srinagar will function as the hub, with four institutes serving as spokes.
These include ITIs at Ganderbal, Kangan, Budgam and Charar-i-Sharief.
Under the proposed model, the hub institutions will anchor the cluster, supporting the modernisation of training facilities and the delivery of industry-oriented skill development across the associated institutes.
The initiative envisages upgrading training infrastructure, introducing contemporary courses and aligning curricula with evolving domestic and global skill requirements.
It also focuses on outcome-based training, stronger industry connections and improved employment prospects for trainees, with the broader objective of transforming ITIs into industry-ready skill development hubs.
The investment is expected to strengthen the vocational training ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir and help young people acquire skills suited to emerging employment opportunities.
CM Omar Abdullah thanks PM Narendra Modi
In a post on X, as per news agency JKNS, the Office of the Chief Minister wrote, Chief Minister has expressed gratitude to Prime Minister @narendramodi and Union Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship @jayantrld for approving Strategic Investment Plans (SIPs) worth ₹475.41 crore under PM-SETU to upgrade key ITI clusters across Jammu & Kashmir.
Under this initiative, the Jammu ITI Cluster comprising ITI Jammu as hub along with R.S. Pura, Nowshera, Samba, and Kathua as spokes will be upgraded with an SIP of ₹240 Crore, it reads.
Similarly, the Srinagar ITI Cluster with ITI Srinagar as hub along with Ganderbal, Kangan, Budgam, and Charar-i-Sharief as spokes will be modernized with an SIP of ₹235.41 Crore, post reads.
Chief Minister said the initiative will modernise training infrastructure, strengthen industry linkages and equip J&K’s youth with job-ready skills and better employment opportunities, it reads. (JKNS)