Did the Maha Cabinet Approve the Launch of the PM SETU Scheme in ITIs and Waive Stamp Duty on Enemy Property Transactions?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Mumbai, Jan 27 (NationPress) The Maharashtra Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, convened on Tuesday to make pivotal decisions centered on skill development, infrastructure liquidity, and administrative reforms.
A key highlight was the endorsement of the Pradhan Mantri Skilling And Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM SETU) initiative aimed at enhancing employment prospects for youth. This program will commence in Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) across the Nagpur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, and Pune districts, aiming to streamline job opportunities through upgraded technical training.
Subsequent phases will see the scheme expanded throughout the state. The PM SETU initiative, launched by the Centre on October 4, 2025, is a substantial Rs 60,000 crore initiative designed to modernize 1,000 government ITIs. It employs a hub-and-spoke model, aligning vocational training with high-demand industry needs, focusing on infrastructure, technology, and curriculum enhancements to boost youth employability. Its goal is to turn government ITIs into Centres of Excellence, thus bridging the gap between training and industry needs.
Additionally, to facilitate transactions involving Enemy Properties owned by the Central or state government, the cabinet has approved a total waiver of stamp duty on the sale and purchase of these assets.
The cabinet also greenlit the utilization of the TReDS (Trade Receivables Discounting System) Platform for clearing outstanding payments owed to contractors, particularly targeting Micro, Small, and Medium (MSME) entrepreneurs and contractors associated with the Public Works Department (PWD), thereby ensuring improved cash flow for infrastructure initiatives.
Moreover, the revival of the Jawahar Shetkari Sahakari Soot Girni (Cooperative Spinning Mill) in Dhule was approved, with a formal recommendation for support to be forwarded to the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) in New Delhi.
The cabinet further decided to extend lease durations for government lands allocated for various uses, allowing leases typically granted for 30 years to be eligible for duration extensions under the provisions of the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code (1966) and the Maharashtra Land Revenue (Disposal of Government Lands) Rules (1971).
It is noteworthy that Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was absent from the cabinet meeting due to engagements in his native Satara district. Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule clarified post-meeting that there were no internal disputes within Mahayuti.