1,396 ITIs to be upgraded into centres of excellence: Budget

New Delhi, Feb 28 (UNI) The Government has given a boost to vocational training with altogether 1,396 Industrial Training Institutes (ITI) being upgraded into centres of excellence in specific trades and skills under public-private partnership (PPP) mode.

Further, at least 300 ITIs every year will be upgraded under the PPP mode from this year for which a sum of Rs 750 crore has been kept aside, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said while unveiling the Union Budget proposals for 2007-08 in the Lok Sabha today.

Under the proposed scheme, the state governments, as owners of the ITIs, will continue to regulate admissions and structure and the new management will be given academic and financial autonomy. The Central government will provide financial assistance as seed money.

Announcing this, Mr Chidambaram also proposed grant of an interest-free loan up to Rs 2.5 crore to each ITI for upgradation and revision of courses.

He sought the cooperation of state governments in the upgradation of at least 300 ITIs every year beginning 2007-08.

UNI