Five Valsad ITIs to Get Rs.240 Crore PM SETU Upgrade

VALSAD: Five Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in Valsad district are set for a ₹240-crore transformation under the PM SETU scheme, with the government planning to align vocational courses directly with the manpower needs of local industries.

The five-year upgrade will be funded through a three-way contribution of ₹120 crore from the Centre, ₹80 crore from the Gujarat government and ₹40 crore from industries. Implementation is scheduled to begin from the upcoming academic year.

State Finance Minister Kanu Desai said the initiative would help bridge the gap between industrial requirements and vocational training.

Under the cluster model, Pardi ITI will function as the hub, while the other four institutes will operate as spokes, enabling them to share modern equipment, technology and resources.

Valsad Collector Nitin Sangwan said courses would be tailored to the requirements of industries operating in the district.

“Industries will be able to design courses according to their requirements and also facilitate faculty upgrades,” Sangwan said.

New courses will be introduced after approval from the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), with the objective of improving students’ employment prospects immediately after completing their training.

Valsad is the second district in Gujarat to be selected as a cluster under PM SETU. Training will focus on emerging and high-demand sectors, including artificial intelligence, semiconductors, robotics and automobiles.

A governing body comprising representatives from both the government and industry will oversee the initiative. The cluster is expected to offer a mix of short-term and long-term courses.