Bhubaneswar: In a major push towards strengthening youth employability and industrial readiness in Odisha, the National Steering Committee (NSC) of the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) scheme has approved a Strategic Investment Plan worth Rs 240.50 crore for the Kataka ITI Cluster.
The landmark project will be implemented through a strategic partnership between the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), the State Government of Odisha, and Tata Steel Foundation.
The approval came during the 6th NSC meeting held in New Delhi under the chairpersonship of Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, MSDE.
Under this Strategic Investment Plan, Government ITI Kataka will serve as the Hub, anchoring advanced technology centers and administrative coordination. It will support four key regional technical institutes operating as Spokes:
- Madhusudan Government ITI Choudwar (Kataka)
- Government ITI Paradeep (Jagatsinghpur)
- Government ITI Jajpur (Jajpur)
- Government ITI Dhenkanal (Dhenkanal)
This Hub-and-Spoke model ensures that high-tech modern infrastructure, high-end laboratories, and advanced training methodologies are decentralized, directly benefiting youth across the central and coastal industrial belts of Odisha.
Focus on New-Age Skills and Industry Integration
The ₹240.50 crore investment will focus on modernizing workshop infrastructure, bringing in industry 4.0-aligned courses, upgrading trainer capabilities, and securing direct employment pathways.
“The approvals given by the National Steering Committee are an important step in implementing PM-SETU. They will help strengthen ITIs, improve training, and increase industry participation. We encourage clusters to work towards ISO certification and include at least one WorldSkills-aligned trade or competency area,” stated Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, MSDE.
The involvement of Tata Steel Foundation ensures that training curricula are aligned with modern manufacturing, metallurgy, heavy industries, and emerging tech sectors, bridging the gap between classroom skill training and market requirements.
Part of a Bigger National Push
The Kataka ITI project is part of a larger ₹1,194.92 crore outlay approved by the National Steering Committee during this cycle for five ITI clusters across Odisha, Maharashtra, and Jammu & Kashmir. With this latest decision, the cumulative approved investment under the central government’s flagship PM-SETU scheme has reached ₹3,687 crore nationwide.
The scheme also places special emphasis on the Training of Trainers (ToT) under Component II. Nationwide, over 3,744 instructors have already been trained through National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) to ensure instructors are equipped with contemporary technical and pedagogical skill sets.
For Odisha’s youth, this transformation promises high-quality skill development aligned with international benchmarks, paving the way for lucrative industrial career opportunities right within the state and across the globe.