The Ministry of Rural Development organized a two-day National Level Review Meeting of Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETI) stakeholders in Shillong, Meghalaya, in association with the Government of Meghalaya and the National Academy of RSETI (NAR). The meeting brought together senior officials from the Ministry, State Governments, State Rural Livelihood Missions (SRLMs), sponsoring banks, NAR, and RSETI functionaries to review physical and financial progress at the mid-point of the financial year and develop strategies for the remaining two quarters.
RSETI is a flagship program implemented through a three-way partnership between the Ministry of Rural Development, State/UT Governments, and sponsoring banks, with a mandate to establish an RSETI in every district. Since its inception in January 2009, the program has achieved a national footprint of 647 RSETIs covering 634 districts. Approximately 64 lakh persons have been trained under the program, with about 72% settled into employment, and notably, 46 lakh women beneficiaries representing about 72% of total trained beneficiaries.
Secretary Shri Rohit Kansal emphasized that the ultimate objective is sustainable livelihoods through wage employment, entrepreneurship, or self-employment, not just training. He urged sponsoring banks and SRLMs to analyze the credit-linkage gap among remaining beneficiaries and identify whether the gap stems from lack of demand or deficiencies in credit delivery mechanisms.
The Secretary outlined five key priorities: improving credit linkages, modernizing and improving courses offered, enhancing trainer quality, developing modern model RSETIs, and achieving complete digital transformation with effective use of Artificial Intelligence. He noted that around 65% of trainees are concentrated in a limited set of courses and called for reviewing the course basket to include emerging sectors such as AI, digital and mobile technologies, automobiles, and tourism. He also highlighted opportunities in the international labor market including nursing, caregiving, plumbing, and foreign-language skills.
On mobilization, the Secretary advised that every State should commit to at least one Model RSETI with a definite timeline. He called for integrating the entire RSETI lifecycle on the Kaushal Rural portal with an AI layer to match candidate profiles with suitable courses and livelihood opportunities domestically and internationally.
Joint Secretary Shri S. Sasikumar described RSETI as one of the country's longest-running and most successful skill development programs, noting it is 100% centrally sponsored. He highlighted the Ministry's consideration of an expanded training portfolio including emerging technologies such as AI, Rural Business Incubation Centres, Enterprise Mentoring Cells, partnerships with local industries, a National RSETI Alumni Meet, common branding of trainees' products, and structured post-training handholding.
The meeting included bank-wise presentations by respective bankers and state-wise presentations jointly delivered by State Directors/State Controllers of RSETIs and National Officers of SRLMs. Sessions covered Ministry observations, discussions on best practices, and targets for remaining quarters of the current year and next year. RSETI beneficiaries also shared success stories of how training helped them become self-employed and build sustainable livelihoods.