Pilot Initiative for Special Intervention to Promote Apprenticeship in the North Eastern Region Launched

Aizawl : Shri Lalduhoma, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Mizoram, and Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, jointly launched the “Pilot Initiative for Special Intervention to Promote Apprenticeship in the North Eastern Region (NER)” at the Administrative Training Institute, Aizawl, Mizoram today.

This pilot initiative marks a significant milestone in advancing the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of “Viksit Bharat, Viksit North East,” positioning the eight North Eastern States as vital contributors to India’s economic growth. It also supports the vision of “Ashta Lakshmi” for the holistic development of the North Eastern Region.

The initiative is designed to achieve two key objectives:

1. To increase the number of apprentices and the participation of establishments from the NER.
2. To promote apprenticeship across traditional industry clusters within the region.

The project will be implemented in pilot mode during FY 2025–26. Based on its performance and impact, the initiative may be scaled up further in subsequent phases.

More than 26,000 candidates from the NER, who undergo apprenticeship training either in another NER state or outside the region, will directly benefit from this initiative. A total financial outlay of ₹43.94 crore has been proposed to provide additional support to these candidates.

Each apprentice will receive an additional stipend of ₹1,500 per month for one year, in addition to the existing ₹1,500 monthly support provided by the Government of India under the PM-NAPS scheme.

A dedicated outlay of ₹4 crore has also been proposed to raise awareness and support implementation activities. This includes ₹2 crore for organizing 80 awareness workshops across the eight North Eastern states, ₹1 crore for conducting 10 advocacy and publicity campaigns, and ₹1 crore for establishing a Project Management Unit (PMU) staffed with 10 consultants.

The Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), Guwahati, and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) will serve as key implementing agencies. IIE will lead promotional activities such as workshops and campaigns, while NSDC will manage the disbursement of financial incentives to candidates through the Apprenticeship Portal.

A dedicated Monitoring Committee will be established, chaired by the Director of IIE and co-chaired by a representative from the Ministry of DoNER. The committee will also include representatives from state departments, State Engagement Officers (SEOs), Regional Directorates of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (RDSDEs), and Apprenticeship Advisors (AAAs).