Job Creation Through Meets for Micro and Small Entrepreneurs
Mumbai: The Maharashtra government will establish advanced laboratories in 20 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), organise entrepreneurship meets to train micro and small entrepreneurs, and enhance technical education and employment opportunities for differently-abled students enrolled in ITIs.
In the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, three Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) were signed between the Department of Skill, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation and the following organisations: Sri Sri Rural Development Program Trust (SSRDPT), Bengaluru; Schneider Electric India Foundation (SEIF), Bengaluru; Pune-based deAsra Foundation; and Project Mumbai, headquartered in Andheri.
The MoUs were signed following a Cabinet meeting held at Mantralaya. Present on the occasion were Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, Minister for Skill, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Mangal Prabhat Lodha, cabinet members, Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik, Additional Chief Secretary of the Skill Department Manisha Verma, Skill Development Commissioner Nitin Patil, DVET Director Madhavi Sardeshmukh, Joint Director Satish Suryawanshi, SSRDPT Trustee Vijay Hake, Schneider Electric India Foundation CSR Head Richa Gautam and Damini Chaudhary, Project Mumbai Director Jalaj Dani, and deAsra Foundation CEO Ashish Pandit.
A tripartite MoU has been signed between SSRDPT, Schneider Electric India Foundation, and the Directorate of Vocational Education and Training (DVET) to train youth in cutting-edge technologies and industrial skills.
SSRDPT is a not-for-profit organisation that provides training in soft skills, leadership, and entrepreneurship to promote employment and self-employment. Schneider Electric India Foundation, through its CSR initiatives, supports youth across India in education, skill development, and employment.
As part of the agreement, Schneider Electric will upgrade electrician trade workshops in 20 government ITIs across the state over the next three years. It will also establish solar technician labs and industrial automation labs. Additionally, all electrician trade instructors from the state will undergo a free 15-day advanced training program in Bangalore, focusing on modern technology and soft skills.
Through this initiative, 9,750 trainees will receive training in electrician trades, renewable energy technologies, and industrial automation over four years. SEIF has already successfully upgraded workshops in ITIs in Amravati and Nashik.
Implementation Timeline and Scope:
• Year 1: 1,500 youth across 10 centers
• Year 2: 2,250 youth across 15 centers
• Year 3 & 4: 3,000 youth each year across 20 centers.
To boost entrepreneurship, the Maharashtra State Innovation Society under the Skill, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Department signed an MoU with the Pune-based deAsra Foundation.
Under this partnership, training programs, expert guidance, and professional development sessions will be offered to micro and small entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurial meets will be organised across districts to reach up to 5,000 beneficiaries—including aspiring entrepreneurs, early-stage startups, and small-scale business owners.
deAsra Foundation supports entrepreneurs in starting and scaling their businesses by providing assistance in business management, financial planning, marketing, and financial literacy. It also conducts expert-led training sessions and works to build a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem.
To enhance educational and employment opportunities for differently-abled students in ITIs, the DVET has entered into an MoU with Project Mumbai.
Project Mumbai, known for its wide-ranging social impact initiatives, will collaborate with DVET to develop and deliver inclusive training programs.
Under this agreement, a joint working committee will be formed, comprising five members—three from DVET and two from Project Mumbai. The committee will focus on:
• Developing customised skill training modules for differently-abled students
• Creating vocational courses in Indian Sign Language (ISL)
• Training ITI instructors
• Facilitating on-the-job training in collaboration with industry partners
