‘Five Lakh Jobs In 5 Years’: Maharashtra To Focus On Employment, Skill Development
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State minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha said his department will work with industries, training institutes, and other stakeholders to ensure Maharashtra leads in skill development and employment generation
Maharashtra minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha said skill development is a priority for PM Narendra Modi and CM Devendra Fadnavis. (Image: News18)
Maharashtra has announced an ambitious target of creating five lakh jobs in the next five years. Skill development minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha said his department’s focus will be on boosting employment and skill development across the state.
“Skill development is a priority for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Our focus will be on training young people and creating job opportunities. In the next 100 days, we will finalise a detailed plan for the department and present it to the chief minister,” he told reporters on Monday (December 23).
Lodha said work had already begun to meet these goals. He said his department will work with industries, training institutes, and other stakeholders to ensure Maharashtra becomes a leader in skill development and employment generation.
Shortly after assuming charge, he held his first meeting with representatives of the World Bank that approved a loan of Rs 2,200 crore to support different skill development initiatives. These include upgrading government-run industrial training institutes (ITI) and expanding employment training programmes.
“We will complete all formalities to secure the World Bank funds as soon as possible,” he said, adding that these funds will be used to modernise training facilities and improve job-oriented courses for youth.
Under a central plan, 1,000 ITIs across India will receive support for modernisation. The minister said he was planning to ensure that those in Maharashtra get the maximum share.
To achieve this, he said he will soon meet Union skill development minister Jayant Chaudhary. “Upgrading ITIs will not only improve the quality of training but also make the youth more employable in today’s competitive market,” he added.
Lodha further said the department was committed to creating jobs for the youth. In the next five years, the focus will be on providing quality training to five lakh young people, partnering with industries to offer job-oriented programmes, and expanding the reach of skill development schemes to rural and urban areas alike.
He highlighted the importance of working closely with private companies to understand their needs and align training programmes accordingly. “Our goal is simple – to provide opportunities for every young person who wants to work. By creating the right training and employment ecosystem, we can achieve this target,” he added.
Skill development has been a core part of the state government’s vision for economic growth. Fadnavis has pushed for initiatives that empower youth with the skills needed to succeed in a fast-changing job market.
