Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Saturday, 18 July 2026, told the state assembly that his government is upgrading 30 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) under the PM SETU Yojana, with an outlay of Rs 241 crore per cluster across six clusters formed for the purpose. The announcement came during his address on an opposition no-confidence motion at the Chhattisgarh Vidhan Sabha in Raipur.

Context

Speaking on the floor of the assembly, CM Sai stated — 'हम लोग पी.एम. सेतु योजना के तहत 30 आई.टी.आई. का भी प्रदेश में उन्नयन कर रहे हैं' — 'We are upgrading 30 ITIs in the state under the PM SETU Yojana.' He added that six clusters have been formed and Rs 241 crore is being spent on each cluster so that young people can receive training and connect with employment opportunities.

The remarks were made as part of the Chief Minister's rebuttal to the opposition's no-confidence motion, a legislative device used by the opposition to formally challenge the government's performance and seek accountability on policy delivery.

Policy Backdrop

The PM SETU Yojana is a central government scheme aimed at upgrading the infrastructure and training quality of ITIs across India. It sits within the broader framework of the Skill India Mission, launched in 2015, which sought to train millions of youth through modernised vocational institutes and sector skill councils.

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, created in 2014, has been the nodal body consolidating such central vocational training schemes. Chhattisgarh, since its formation in 2000, has steadily expanded its ITI network — particularly in tribal and industrial districts — to serve its mineral-based economy, which generates consistent demand for certified tradespersons.

State governments across India have increasingly cited central skill schemes in legislative replies to opposition motions, reflecting the post-2014 national emphasis on vocational training as a response to youth unemployment.

Stakeholders and Impact

The primary beneficiaries of the upgrade are Chhattisgarh's youth, particularly those seeking vocational certification in technical trades. ITIs offer certificate-level courses that directly improve employability in industries such as mining, construction, and manufacturing — all sectors prominent in the state's economy.

The cluster-based model groups multiple ITIs under a shared administrative and resource framework, which is intended to improve consistency in training quality and reduce duplication of infrastructure costs. If each of the six clusters receives the stated Rs 241 crore, the total programme outlay across clusters would amount to approximately Rs 1,446 crore.

What's Next

The government's stated goal is that trainees from upgraded ITIs connect directly with employment after completing their programmes. Observers will watch for annual outcome reports detailing ITI placement rates and any supplementary budget provisions for cluster maintenance and equipment renewal.

With the BJP government in Chhattisgarh — in power since the 2023 assembly elections — continuing to align state skill initiatives with central schemes, the ITI upgrade programme is likely to feature prominently in the ruling party's governance narrative ahead of future electoral cycles.