Govt. to upgrade 300 ITIs every year

New Delhi, Apr 30 (UNI) Driven by the goal to produce a world class labour force, capable of facing stiff competition in global markets, the government today said it would upgrade 300 ITIs each year under the public-private-partnership (PPP) mode in tandem with state governments.

''A sum of Rs 750 crore has been kept aside for this purpose,'' Minister of State for Labour&Employment Oscar Fernandes said, greeting the workers in his May Day -- International Labour Day -- message.

Mr Fernandes said the government was working for producing a world class work force, and 300 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) would be upgraded every year, beginning from the current financial year.

''One of the steps taken is to upgrade 500 ITIs into Centres of Excellence for producing multi-skilled workforce of world standard. Accordingly, action has been initiated for upgradation 100 ITIs from domestic resources and 400 ITIs through World Bank assistance.'' Referring to the unorganised sector workers, who contribute about 60 per cent of the country's GDP, he said that besides enacting a legislation to provide social security to these workers, the Centre would also implement some other important legislations enacted for their welfare.

He said after independence, the government had initiated several important steps for an improvement in the working conditions and welfare of the working class.

The minister said that in the present economic scenario of liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation, skill development was of utmost necessity to produce a world class work force, capable of facing stiff competition in the global market.

Referring to the 2007-08 budget proposals, he said the government had announced that 1396 ITIs would be upgraded into centres of excellence in specific trade and skills under the PPP model.

Under the proposed scheme, the State Government, as the owner of the ITI, will continue to regulate admissions and fees, the new management will be given academic and financial autonomy, and the Central Government will provide financial assistance by way of seed money.

''Once a tripartite MOU is signed among the three stakeholders, an interest-free loan upto Rs.2.5 crore to each ITI for upgradation and revision of courses would be granted,'' he said.

With regard to efforts for elimination of child labour in hazardous employment, the minister said The National Child Labour Project (NCLP) had been extended to cover 250 districts. In addition, a 40 million dollars INDUS Project (Indo-US project) is in operation.

Employment of children working as domestic servants and in tea-shops, restaurants, hotels and dhabas had also been banned with effect from October 10 last year.

UNI