Lucknow: The UP govt has rolled out the ‘ITI Chalo Abhiyan' in a bid to enhance skill development and expand employment opportunities for the youth. Aligned with national flagship initiatives such as ‘Make in India', ‘Start-up India', ‘Stand-Up India' and ‘Digital India', the campaign aims to encourage admissions for the academic session 2025 in govt and private ITIs across the state.Emphasising vocational and technical education as the foundation of inclusive growth, the initiative focuses on equipping both rural and urban youth with industry-relevant skills to prepare them for gainful employment, officials said. Calling upon all district magistrates to support the campaign, principal secretary, department of vocational education, skill development and entrepreneurship, Hariom said, "The campaign will aid in a secure future for the youth and will position UP as a frontrunner in skill development."

He added, "It's a golden opportunity for the state's youth to become self-reliant and contribute meaningfully to the nation's progress."To make the campaign a success, an extensive publicity drive is being carried out in all districts. Promotional materials, including posters and brochures, have been distributed to all ITIs. District inspector of schools and basic education officers have been directed to promote the campaign in schools to raise awareness among students and parents.

Similarly, district panchayat raj officers have been instructed to publicise the initiative during gram sabha meetings.

Block development officers will also hold sessions with gram pradhans and school authorities to mobilise participation at the grassroots level.Weekly review meetings, chaired by the chief development officers at the district level, will monitor the campaign's progress and ensure timely interventions, said a govt spokesperson. In collaboration with Tata Technologies Ltd, 149 govt ITIs in the state are offering 11 long-term training courses tailored to the demands of modern technologies and industries. These courses are designed to bridge the gap between education and employment, enhancing job readiness among students.Further, the department of vocational education recently signed MoUs with 22 industrial partners, paving the way for employment opportunities for 27,000 youth.