Chandigarh (Balwinder Singh): Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini announced a series of major initiatives aimed at empowering the state’s youth, including stipends for Common Eligibility Test (CET) qualified candidates under the Saksham Yuva Yojana starting November 1. Speaking at a review meeting for the Employment, Skill Development, Industrial Training Department, and the Haryana Skill Development Mission under the Viksit Bharat Vision 2047, the Chief Minister highlighted Haryana’s impressive achievement of securing a place among the top ten states in the central government’s Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Scheme. He shared that this initiative has already facilitated employment opportunities for over 51,000 young individuals across the province.
To further elevate skill training standards, Saini revealed that a regional centre of Shri Vishwakarma Skill University will be established in Fatehabad as a Center of Excellence. He also announced that existing Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) across the province will undergo modernization, with plans to open model ITIs in every district and establish facilities in every block. Of the 143 blocks in Haryana, 117 currently have operational ITIs, with new units planned for locations such as Jhojhu Kalan, Kari Rupa, and Rankauli in Charkhi Dadri, as well as Pillu Khera. Furthermore, special state-of-the-art training centres dedicated to AI, robotics, and drone technology are being set up in Karnal, Panchkula, and Panipat at an investment of 20 million rupees.
The state is also positioning itself as a global educational hub by establishing specialized AI hubs in Panchkula and Gurugram, alongside plans to train 200,000 youths in hard skills. As part of a comprehensive administrative upgrade, an AI portal will be created to consolidate data from ITIs and skill development programs for real-time access. In addition, an Entrepreneurship Development Centre will be constructed in Fatehabad, Sultanpur, and Antedi, while a state-level Art and Culture Centre for skill faculty training will be set up in Umri village, Kurukshetra.
Focusing on financial stability and employment for educated youth, the Chief Minister detailed that 540,428 CET-passed individuals identified in a recent survey will receive 100 hours of work. Those who do not secure regular employment within two years will receive a monthly honorarium under the Saksham Yuva Yojana, effective November 1. Saini also recognized five youth selected for an international skill competition in China this September, promising a 1 million rupee reward and guaranteed employment for any medal winners. High-level officials, including Principal Secretaries Vijay Dahiya and Amneet P. Kumar, attended the meeting to ensure seamless execution across all districts.
