Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually addressed the citizens of poll-bound Bihar on Saturday to unveil various youth-focused initiatives worth more than ₹62,000 crore.
The schemes are intended to expand Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), deliver free skill training, provide interest-free education loans and impart vocational education.
The primary initiative – the PM-SETU (Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs) scheme – is a centrally-sponsored scheme with an investment of ₹60,000 crore, as per a statement by the Prime Minister’s office.
It envisages the upgradation of 1,000 government ITIs in a hub-and-spoke model comprising 200 hub ITIs and 800 spoke ITIs.
“Collectively, PM-SETU will redefine India’s ITI ecosystem, making it government-owned but industry-managed, with global co-financing support from the World Bank and Asian Development Bank,” the statement read.
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In its first phase of implementation, the focus will be on ITIs in Patna and Darbhanga in the state, with special emphasis on transformative projects that reflect Bihar’s rich legacy and youthful demographic, the statement further said.
PM Modi also launched Bihar’s revamped ‘Mukhyamantri Nishchay Svyam Sahayata Bhatta Yojana’, under which nearly five lakh graduates are slated to receive a monthly allowance of ₹1,000 each for two years, along with free skill training.
The PM also launched the re-designed Bihar Student Credit Card Scheme, which provides interest-free education loans of up to ₹4 lakh, thereby significantly easing financial burden of pursuing higher education for deserving students.
The PMO shared that more than 3.92 lakh students have already availed loans worth more than ₹7,880 crore under the scheme.
The Bihar Yuva Ayog is another mission meant to empower the state’s youth and directed towards those in the ages between 18 and 45. The statutory commission was formally inaugurated by PM Modi to “channelise and harness” the potential of the state’s young population, the statement said.
With Bihar going to polls soon, the state has been at the centre stage for several development and welfare initiatives of the NDA governments at the Centre and the state.
The prime minister also inaugurated the Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur Skill University, which has been envisioned to impart industry-oriented courses and vocational education to create a globally competitive workforce.
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