PM Setu Scheme Bridges Skill Institutes and Industry with Rs 60,000 Cr

New Delhi, September 9 – Union Minister Jayant Chaudhary announced that the Pradhan Mantri Setu (PM Setu) programme, a Rs 60,000 crore flagship, is set to transform the relationship between skill‑development institutions and the manufacturing ecosystem. The minister stressed that the success of this massive initiative hinges on active participation from the private sector via Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

According to Chaudhary, ITIs across the country serve as the primary conduit for vocational training, and the PM Setu plan will facilitate stronger coordination with industry partners. Companies are being urged to allocate CSR funds toward modernising ITI infrastructure, updating curricula to reflect industry trends, and expanding placement networks.

The minister also drew attention to complementary mechanisms such as the Vidyanjali portal, which enables corporations, alumni and philanthropists to fund school‑level projects, and the broader ‘People for Action’ platform that fosters dialogue among CSR stakeholders, donors and policy makers.

Recent CSR analytics reveal a surge in corporate social spending, yet the concentration of funds remains skewed toward urban centres and large industrial clusters. Chaudhary called for a strategic shift that directs resources to aspirational districts and blocks where skill development can catalyse economic upliftment.

In the latest 2025 CSR review, sports received heightened attention, a development Chaudhary described as encouraging. He reiterated that the private sector’s involvement in education, skills, sports and community welfare is vital for the inclusive growth envisaged under the ‘Developed India’ agenda.

The minister concluded by lauding the Social Stock Exchange, an innovative marketplace that allows NGOs and social enterprises to present projects to a broad investor base, ensuring greater transparency and encouraging public participation in nation‑building programmes.