Skill development ministry to seek Cabinet nod to set up 2,500 ITIs

NEW DELHI: Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship will soon seek Cabinet approval to establish industrial training institutes in 2,500 blocks in the country, Union Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy today said.

The Minister said the standards of creation of ITIs were diluted to the extent that it has brought "shame", underlining the government's emphasis on improving quality of training in the institutes.

"There are 2,500 blocks in this country (where) we do not have any ITIs or equivalent. We are bringing a Cabinet proposal to establish such 2,500 ITIs across the country," Rudy told reporters here.


At present, there are around 14,000 ITIs in the country.

Rudy said the proposed 2,500 ITIs will not be under the National Council for Vocational Training but also have courses under National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) for short-term skilling.

Pointing out the disparity in courses offered by ITIs, he said that out of 18 lakh students going to ITIs, 11 lakh are trained in only two trades — fitter and electrician — although there are 127 trades.

The minister said the government has started a grading system for ITIs to rate them on the basis of their credentials.

"Let us move piecemeal to establish quality of training in ITIs, whether they have enough staff, faculty, teaching mechanism, online testing, etc.," Rudy said.

Addressing a conference of states to discuss their engagements with Centre on the skill agenda, Rudy requested the sector skill councils (SSCs) to get in touch with states.

"They (SSCs) have to become a job aggregator, they have to look for jobs and tell where the jobs are," he said.

The Minister highlighted issues like shortage of trainers and schools and buildings to impart skill training.