The Government on Thursday decided to implement a Rs 550-crore scheme to provide vocational training for school dropouts and skilled and semi-skilled workers across the country to enable them to get “gainful” employment.
A decision to this effect was taken by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) at its meeting chaired by the Prime Minister here.
The scheme titled “Skill Development Initiative” (SDI) will be a Centrally sponsored scheme with 100 per cent Central Assistance, Parliamentary Affairs Minister P R Dasmunshi told newspersons after the Cabinet meeting.
The scheme, which will also cover ITI graduates, will aim at improving employability by utilising the infrastructure available in government and private institutions and industry. 
Training under the SDI scheme will be provided by various vocational training providers (VTPs) under the Central Government, state governments, public and private sector and industrial establishments.
To begin with, 1,896 government ITIs and 3,218 private Industrial Training Centres (ITCs) affiliated to the National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT) will be eligible to participate in the scheme as VTPs, the Minister said.  Under the SDI, one million persons would be trained or their existing skills.