Nagpur: In a push to enhance employment opportunities and strengthen the local MSME ecosystem, the Public Works Department (PWD) is set to establish a skill development centre in Besa at an estimated cost of ₹1.5 crore. The proposed facility aims to equip local youth and women with vocational and industry-relevant skills, enabling them to pursue self-employment and small-scale entrepreneurship.The initiative, supported by revenue minister and local MLA Chandrashekhar Bawankule, is expected to serve as a hub for multiple training programmes tailored to the needs of the local population.A senior PWD official told TOI that the focus of the centre will be on practical, livelihood-oriented training. “The facility is being developed specifically to promote self-employment. There are several women-led self-help groups (bachat gats) in the area, and this centre will help them scale up their activities,” the official said.Training modules are likely to include skills such as tailoring, incense stick making, and other small-scale business activities. Officials said the centre will also provide space and basic infrastructure for individuals who lack the resources to start or operate their businesses independently. “If someone has the skill but not the space to work, this centre will support them,” the official added.Civic authorities believe the project will play a crucial role in nurturing grassroots entrepreneurship and generating sustainable livelihoods in Besa and adjoining areas.Chief officer of the Besa Nagar Panchayat, Bharat Nandanwar, said the upcoming National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM) initiatives in the area will further complement the project. “The skill development centre will host multiple training programmes and work in tandem with NULM schemes, which will soon be rolled out. Together, these efforts will significantly boost employment opportunities,” he said.
