Tata STRIVE to boost skill development in Maharashtra
– Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis
Mumbai, August 22: Tata STRIVE, an initiative of the Tata Community Initiatives Trust, has undertaken several programmes to enhance the skills, employability, entrepreneurship and innovation capabilities of youth in Maharashtra. Tata STRIVE has been operating in the state since 2015, with major skill development centres functioning in Navi Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur and Nashik. These initiatives will provide further impetus to employment generation, said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
The Nagpur centre was inaugurated by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on July 26, 2026. More than 8,000 youth have so far received employment-oriented skill training through these major centres.
The initiative is being implemented under the leadership of Minister for Skill Development, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Mangal Prabhat Lodha. More than 6,000 trainees have also received employment-oriented skill training through Tata STRIVE’s expansion and partner centres. Specialised training facilities have been developed in Thane for the air-conditioning sector and in Pune and Bhilwadi in Sangli district for the automobile sector. Multi-skill training centres are also operational in Taloja and Nagpur.
‘Dual VET’ programme in ITIs
In partnership with Siemens, Tata STRIVE has implemented the Dual Vocational Education and Training (Dual VET) programme in 270 government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) across the state. More than 600 instructors have received training in pedagogical skills, while over 35,000 trainees have gained practical exposure to industries and projects. The programme provides ITI students with opportunities for on-the-job training during their first and second years.
In collaboration with Bajaj Auto Limited, a certificate course based on Total Productive Maintenance is being implemented in 18 ITIs—11 government and seven private—in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. More than 3,500 trainees had enrolled in engineering courses through Bajaj Manufacturing’s ‘Bajaj Online Learning and Discovery’ learning management system. The initiative is now being implemented in more than 900 ITIs across Maharashtra, with over 80,000 trainees enrolled.
Focus on entrepreneurship and digital skills
Tata STRIVE has provided entrepreneurship training to more than 1,800 individuals in Maharashtra, along with financial and mentoring support to help them start businesses. Organisations including Sahyadri Farms, Tata Capital, Tata Communications, SIDBI, Original Composite Company and Maharashtra State Skill Development Society have supported these initiatives.
Through digital programmes implemented in partnership with Microsoft, Google and Amazon, more than 4,000 trainees in Maharashtra have received training in areas such as cybersecurity, IT systems, digital marketing, UX design and cloud computing.
Comprehensive MoU with Maharashtra Government
The Department of Skill Development, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation of the Maharashtra Government and Tata Community Initiatives Trust signed a Memorandum of Understanding on July 15, 2022. The MoU covers employment-oriented skill training, entrepreneurship and innovation development, strengthening community-based enterprises, improving the employability of students in government ITIs, developing infrastructure for skill training, enhancing trainer capacity and expanding the Dual VET programme.
