Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Chhattisgarh under the Prime Minister’s Scheme for Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded Industrial Training Institutes (PM-SETU). Under the agreement, BSP will serve as the Anchor Industry Partner (AIP) for the upgradation of the Durg Hub-and-Spoke Industrial Training Institute (ITI) Cluster, marking a significant step towards strengthening industry-oriented skill development and improving employment prospects for the state’s youth.

The MoU was signed on October 13, 2026, in the presence of Shri Vishnu Deo Sai, Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh; Shri Guru Khushwant Saheb, Minister for Technical Education and Employment; and Dr. Basavaraju S., Secretary, Technical Education and Employment. The programme was held under the leadership of Shri Pawan Kumar, Executive Director (Human Resources), Bhilai Steel Plant. Shri Hemant Ramesh Nandanwar, Director, Employment and Training, signed the agreement on behalf of the state government, while Shri Sanjeev Kumar Srivastava, General Manager In-Charge (Human Resources–Learning and Development), signed on behalf of SAIL–BSP.

The initiative aims to modernise government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), strengthen collaboration between industry and training institutions, and equip trainees with skills aligned with evolving industrial requirements. The cluster-based approach is designed to improve the utilisation of training infrastructure and resources while making vocational education more responsive to the needs of industry.

Under the proposed arrangement, Government ITI, Durg, will serve as the hub institution, while Government ITI, Bhilai; Government Women’s ITI, Bhilai; Government ITI, Dondi Lohara; and Government ITI, Rajnandgaon, will function as spoke institutions. The five-institute cluster will provide a coordinated framework for upgrading training facilities and strengthening skill development programmes across the participating institutions.

The upgradation programme will focus on modernising training infrastructure, upgrading workshops and laboratories, and introducing industry-oriented courses incorporating emerging technologies. Faculty development will also be a key component, alongside expanded opportunities for on-the-job training, apprenticeships and placement support. These measures are intended to bridge the gap between vocational training and actual workplace requirements, thereby enhancing trainees’ employability.

The initiative will also prioritise expanding skill development opportunities for women and encouraging their participation in emerging industrial sectors. Career guidance, mentoring and placement assistance will form an integral part of the effort to help trainees acquire relevant competencies and prepare for changing employment requirements.

The identified ITI cluster will be upgraded and managed through an industry-led Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), in which SAIL–BSP will hold a majority stake. The proposed mechanism will facilitate coordinated investment by the Central Government, the State Government and industry in modern training infrastructure and skill development facilities.

The partnership between BSP and the Government of Chhattisgarh is expected to strengthen the state’s technical and vocational education ecosystem, improve the availability of industry-ready skilled workers and create better employment pathways for young people. By bringing industry expertise into vocational training, the initiative will contribute to developing a skilled workforce aligned with industrial growth and the broader objectives of the Skill India mission and Viksit Bharat.

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RDJ/BKT

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