Building a Skilled and Self-Reliant Basti: Uttar Pradesh’s Emerging Hub of Skill and Enterprise
Building a Skilled and Self-Reliant Basti: Uttar Pradesh’s Emerging Hub of Skill and Enterprise
The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), in partnership with the Government of Uttar Pradesh, is driving a major transformation in Basti district — turning it into a model of skill-based development, local entrepreneurship, and inclusive growth.
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education Shri Jayant Chaudhary was in Basti yesterday to attend a public outreach programme and review the progress of ongoing skill development and entrepreneurship initiatives in the district.
With a population of 2.46 million, spread across 14 blocks and 4 tehsils, Basti is rapidly emerging as one of Eastern Uttar Pradesh’s most active districts in the field of skill training and enterprise creation. The district hosts a robust institutional ecosystem with 4 Government ITIs, 26 Private ITIs, 2 Polytechnics, one Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS), and an RSETI, together offering training capacity for more than 10,000 youth annually.
Skill Development Achievements
Under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Basti has trained around 15000 candidates. The district has focused on key sectors such as Healthcare, Electronics, Beauty & Wellness, Handicrafts, and Food Processing — ensuring that skilling translates directly into employability and entrepreneurship.
Through the District Skill Development Plan (DSDP), multiple government departments — including ITI, Polytechnic, NRLM, RSETI, and private training partners — are collaborating to bridge skill gaps, enhance quality, and create local employment linkages.
The Rural Self Employment Training Institute (RSETI) Basti has supported over 300 women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) through entrepreneurship and livelihood training. The Jan Shikshan Sansthan, Basti has trained more than 1,800 neo-literates and rural youth in tailoring, beauty wellness, data entry, and handicrafts.
Entrepreneurship and Local Industry
Basti’s One District One Product (ODOP) focus — Wooden Craft and Vinegar — continues to be a major driver of local employment. The district houses 7,743 registered industrial units, including 14 medium and large enterprises, collectively employing over 30,000 people.
In agriculture, more than 2.7 lakh hectares are under cultivation of paddy, wheat, sugarcane, and vegetables. Around 43,000 livestock farmers contribute to the local dairy and poultry economy, linking agri-skilling with livelihoods.
The Krishi Vigyan Kendra (Gotwa) has also introduced innovative agri-entrepreneurship training modules — from mushroom cultivation and bee-keeping to low-cost food processing and organic farming.
Empowering Women Entrepreneurs
Under MSDE’s Swavalambini Women Entrepreneurship Programme, launched in collaboration with NITI Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP), women students from the state— including participants from Basti — have been trained to develop entrepreneurial mindsets and launch start-ups.
Additionally, through the Rashtriya Udyamita Vikas Pariyojana (PM-SVANidhi) pilot project, 247 street vendors and micro-entrepreneurs from Basti have been trained to expand their enterprises and improve business management.
Shri Jayant Chaudhary, said: “Skill India’s true strength lies in its districts and villages. Basti exemplifies how grassroots skilling, when linked with entrepreneurship and local industries, can transform lives and communities. Uttar Pradesh is not just skilling people — it is creating entrepreneurs for a Viksit Bharat.”
Under the ₹60,000-crore Pradhan Mantri Skilling & Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) scheme recently launched by the Prime Minister, Uttar Pradesh has taken the lead in identifying three priority clusters for the first phase of implementation. These clusters will serve as regional hubs for upgraded Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) with modern infrastructure, industry-integrated curricula, and digital training facilities. The initiative aims to make every ITI a catalyst for local job creation, new-age skills, and entrepreneurship aligned to India’s vision of becoming the Skill Capital of the World by 2047.
Aligned with the State’s Vision
These initiatives are in line with the vision of Chief Minister Shri Yogi Adityanath, who has emphasized “Har Haath Ko Kaam, Har Hausle Ko Udaan” — ensuring that every hand has work and every youth has a purpose. Under his leadership, Uttar Pradesh is expanding Model ITIs, Skill Hubs, and District Kaushal Kendras, aiming to make the state the “Skill Capital of India.” With its integrated skilling and entrepreneurship efforts, Basti stands as a symbol of how localized skills can build national strength — empowering every youth to contribute to India’s journey towards a Viksit Bharat.
