Govt to upgrade 300 ITIs under PPP mode

NEW DELHI: Government on Thursday said it will upgrade 300 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) at an estimated cost of Rs 774.50 crore under the public private partnership (PPP) mode during the Eleventh Plan (2007-12).

The decision to revamp first batch of 300 ITIs in the 11th Plan will form part of the in-principle approval given by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) to upgrade 1,396 such institutes as centrally sponsored scheme, said information and broadcasting minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi.

"Out of Rs 774.50 crore, Rs 750 crore shall be used for upgradation of 300 ITIs and Rs 24.5 crore shall be used for management, monitoring and evaluation of the scheme," he said.

An Industry Management Committee (IMC), comprising of an industry partner, four members of the local industry, five nominated members of the state government and ITI principal, will oversee upgradation of each institute.

The state government in consultation with the industry associations will select the industry partner, which will be involved in all aspects of training, from development of curriculum to trade testing, the minister said.

Dasmunsi further said that academic and financial autonomy will improve the internal and external efficiency of ITIs and will also enhance employability of graduates through demand-driven vocational training.