Thaindian News

By Tahir Nadeem Khan

Jammu, March 23 (ANI): On the directives of Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment will train 8000 youth from Jammu and Kashmir in various job-oriented trades in various ITIs across the country, said J-K Govt on Tuesday.

Replying to the discussion on Demand of Grants for the departments under his charge, State Minister for Youth Services, Sports and Technical Education, Prof. R. S. Chib in the Legislative Assembly said the aim is to take advantage of the modular employment programme in sectors with high employment opportunities and applications for this are being invited from the eligible aspirants, he added.

Prof. Chib said that the Government intends to train four million youth of the State in different job-oriented trades till 2022 to enable them get jobs within and outside country.

The Minister said that that Government will strengthen all the existing Government Polytechnics through Central funding and Rs. two crore will be spent on each institution.

He informed a proposal to this effect has been submitted to the Ministry of Human Resources Development for funding. The government would establish 18 new Polytechnic Colleges in uncovered districts of the State for which land has been identified and work will start soon.

Mr. Chib said that to encourage women enrolment in the Polytechnics, the Government will construct women’s hostels in all existing Polytechnic Colleges under the coordinated action plan for skill development. Rs. one crore will be spent on each hostel, he added.

The Minister said that there are 48 ITIs and one ITCs functioning in the State with a total seating capacity of 9252. To strengthen the functioning of the ITIs, he said, a committee has been constituted to study the gaps in infrastructure, manpower and machinery in these institutions.

To further modernize and strength vocational training, the Minister said 104 long and short term courses have been introduced in these ITIs. Besides, he said, seven trade units have been introduced in women ITI, Jammu, besides 5 women wings, consisting 20 trade units in selected ITIs, have also been introduced.

The Minister said that under Vocational Training Improvement Project (UTIP), 10 ITIs are being covered with World Bank assistance of Rs. 21.50 crore, which includes, ITIs of Jammu, Doda, Kishtwar, Rajouri, R. S. Pura, Hiranagar, Srinagar, Baramulla, Anantnag and Kupwara.

The objectives of the scheme is to upgrade selected ITIs as centres of excellence by introducing new Multi-Skilling Modular Courses, improving physical infrastructure and adopting new training technologies. (ANI)