The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) on Thursday convened the first meeting of the Strategic Advisory and Reforms Taskforce for Holistic ITI Transformation (SARTHI) at VigyanBhawan in New Delhi, marking a major step towards strengthening India’s vocational training ecosystem and accelerating reforms across Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs). The meeting was chaired by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education JayantChaudhary. Ministers from Rajasthan, Gujarat, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh, along with senior government officials and stakeholders from the skilling ecosystem, participated in the deliberations.
SARTHI has been established as an apex advisory platform under the Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS) to facilitate structured engagement among stakeholders and support evidence-based policymaking for ITIs. Addressing the meeting, Chaudhary said the initiative reflects a collective commitment to building a dynamic and future-ready vocational education ecosystem aligned with the aspirations of young people and the needs of industry. Members discussed improving institutional performance, quality assurance, learner engagement, assessment systems and the use of technology to enhance transparency and efficiency. The deliberations also focused on increasing women’s participation, strengthening links between education, skilling and employment, promoting entrepreneurship, and improving governance mechanisms within ITIs.
In Guwahati, stakeholders have increasingly highlighted the need for a skilled workforce in sectors such as manufacturing, logistics, services and emerging technologies. Experts believe reforms aimed at modernising ITIs and aligning training with industry demand could help create a stronger talent pipeline for businesses in Assam and the wider Northeast region.