Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Apr 15: In a major step towards improving skill development and boosting employment in the state, the Department of Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Innovation signed a series of MoUs on Tuesday for establishing advanced laboratories, supporting micro and small entrepreneurs, and enhancing technical education for students with disabilities in Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs).
The MoUs were signed in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis with Sri Sri Rural Development Program Trust, Schneider Electric India Foundation, Deasra Foundation, and Project Mumbai.
The tripartite agreement between the Directorate of Vocational Education and Training and Sri Sri Rural Development Program Trust aims to provide new-age technology training to youth through upgraded industrial training infrastructure. Schneider Electric India Foundation, through its CSR initiative, will modernise electrician workshops across 20 government ITIs in the state over the next three years, and establish solar technician and industrial automation labs. The foundation will also offer 15-day free training in modern technologies and soft skills to electrical industry artisans in Bengaluru.
Over the next four years, these initiatives are expected to benefit 9,750 trainees from cities such as Mumbai, Pune, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nagpur, Amravati, and Nashik. Training will be rolled out in phases starting from the 2025-26 academic year, with the number of trainees and centres increasing every year.
In another move to strengthen entrepreneurship, the Maharashtra State Innovation Society signed an MoU with Pune-based Deasra Foundation. This partnership will provide training, expert guidance, and professional development support to micro and small entrepreneurs. The programme will focus on entrepreneurial meetups across districts and aims to benefit around 5,000 aspiring and established entrepreneurs. The foundation will assist with business management, marketing strategies, financial literacy, and mentorship, fostering a strong support system for local businesses.
Additionally, the Directorate of Vocational Education and Training joined hands with Project Mumbai to promote inclusive education for students with disabilities in ITIs. A Joint Working Committee will be formed to design special training programmes, develop sign language-based curricula, and organise industry-linked, on-the-job training for these students.
The Chief Minister highlighted that these partnerships would help equip Maharashtra’s youth with the right skills for the future while also ensuring inclusive growth.