Transforming ITIs to suit industry needs

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: fund allocation. This was the scenario in 2005.

Over the year 2006, the World Bank adopted 400 more it is, but these were also based on the IMC model. Soon the government realised they need to do something different within the PPP model. The answer lay in higher industry involvement and giving the IMCs more autonomy. The third stage of ITIs redefinition, which began in 2007, stacked up the remaining 1,400 or so in batches of 300, which are transitioning each year to the modified PPP version. These modifications were first initiated by the Haryana government and five ITIs in Haryana signed a tripartite MoU between the government and the industry and ITI—which was now converted into a society through registration so as to give it added financial flexibility.

Maruti, Sona Koya and Liberty Shoes are examples of companies in Haryana, which have adopted ITIs so that they can better serve their own needs and that of their industry. In order to enable the transformation, a sum of Rs 750-crore has been allocated by the Central government for these 1,400 it is. Of this, about Rs 2.5 crore has been set aside for the enhancement of each ITI and is given directly to the IMC. The ultimate allotment of an ITI to the industry, however, requires approval from the labour secretary.

This new initiative, started last year, has redesigned the role of the IMC, which will be on the driver’s seat as opposed to its earlier function, which was advisory in nature. During 2007, 300 ITIs successfully transitioned to the IMC model and 2,008 conversions are still in progress but should be complete by end-December. Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat are some of the states, which have given industry a free hand with ITIs this year.

Challenges faced by ITIs

Essentially, eligibility for admission for most courses in ITIs require students to clear class XII, but some courses even admit class VIII and class X students. Challenges for ITIs include complacent and inadequate number of trainers, principals and dated curriculum, with no revisions having taken place since the 1960s. All this has led to a continual focus in curriculum towards the manufacturing sector, neglecting the services sector, which has blossomed in recent decades.

Industry partnership at work