Mumbai, Oct 8 (NationPress) Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Chief Minister's 'Short Term Employability Programme' (STEP) aimed at offering industry-relevant and employment-focused training to the youth in Maharashtra.

The Department of Skill, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation will oversee the implementation of this initiative, with an expectation to train 75,000 individuals this year and approximately one lakh from the following year.

Minister of Skill, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Mangal Prabhat Lodha stated that the inaugural event will take place at 600 locations statewide, featuring artisans from the Vishwakarma community, local artists, and traditional trade experts as distinguished guests. This recognition serves to honor their contributions and promote appreciation for traditional skills.

“The programme will launch 2,506 units within 419 government industrial training institutes (ITIs) and 141 government technical schools across the state. This initiative decentralizes skill education, tailoring courses to meet local demand and public interest. Each district's institution management committees will oversee these courses, enhancing local engagement and accountability in education planning, execution, and quality assurance,” Minister Lodha explained.

He emphasized that the initiative’s primary goal is to equip the youth with modern skills aligned with evolving industrial demands, fostering self-reliance. Furthermore, it aims to create self-employment opportunities for both youth and women from rural backgrounds through localized training.

The government announcement indicated that the admission process for this programme will be fully online. Interested candidates can register at https://admission.dvet.gov.in. The training fees range from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 monthly. 25 percent of the seats are reserved for trainees within the institute, while the rest will be available to external candidates.

Eligibility for these courses extends to ITI students and those in Class 10, 12, diploma, or degree programs. The curriculum includes modern technological subjects such as additive manufacturing, drone technology, electric vehicles, solar energy, cybersecurity, Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, green hydrogen, mobile repair, and social media influencing.

“Special batches comprising 364 groups for women and 408 for emerging sectors will commence, with dedicated training centers established in Gadchiroli, Latur, Nagpur, and Amravati based on local industry requirements. A unique course titled ‘Vedic Sanskar Junior Assistant’ will also be introduced, considering the upcoming Kumbh Mela in Nashik,” added Minister Lodha.