SRINAGAR, October 18, 2026 – Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Jayant Singh for approving Strategic Investment Plans (SIPs) worth Rs 475.41 crore. The funds, allocated under the PM-SETU initiative, are aimed at upgrading key Industrial Training Institute (ITI) clusters across the Union Territory.
The Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) announced the development, highlighting that the initiative will be executed under the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) scheme. The flagship program aims to modernize vocational training infrastructure and directly align educational curricula with the evolving needs of modern industries.
Under the approved investment plan, the UT will adopt a hub-and-spoke model to revolutionize its skill development sector:
- Jammu ITI Cluster: An investment of Rs 240 crore has been earmarked for this cluster, which will feature ITI Jammu as the central hub, supported by ITIs in R.S. Pura, Nowshera, Samba, and Kathua as its spokes.
- Srinagar ITI Cluster: Modernized with an allocation of Rs 235.41 crore, this cluster will operate with ITI Srinagar as the hub, linking ITIs in Ganderbal, Kangan, Budgam, and Charar-i-Sharief as spokes.
Abdullah emphasized that this massive financial injection will transform local ITIs into modern skill development centers. By introducing contemporary courses and strengthening industry linkages, the initiative will promote outcome-based training and equip the youth of Jammu and Kashmir with job-ready skills. This, in turn, is expected to significantly enhance their employability and grant them better access to emerging livelihood opportunities both domestically and globally.
Published by True Roots Media Network