Haryana to increase number of seats in ITIs

Chandigarh, Aug 18 (UNI) The Haryana government has decided to increase the intake capacity of students in 21 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) of the state by adding 9,000 additional seats within a year.

Stating this here today, an official spokesman said the state government, led by Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, was laying special emphasis on the promotion of technical education so as to create more and more employment opportunities for the youth of the state.

The budget for the ITIs had been increased by about six times from Rs 13.96 crore in 2004-05 to Rs 76.08 crore in 2007-08.

He said the decision to increase the intake capacity in ITIs had been taken in view of the growing demand of admissions in the ITIs. In the last academic year, as many as 85,000 applications were received against 8500 seats in 79 ITIs.

The intake capacity in many of the ITIs was less than 100 students, which made them unviable. Hence, the intake capacity would be increased up to 500 students at a total cost of Rs 80 crore in 21 ITIs.

He said the ITIs in which the intake capacity would be increased are ITIs (Women) at Ambala City, Faridabad, Jhajjar at Gudha and ITIs at Bhodia Khera, Tohana, Barwala, Jind, Bahadurgarh, Nissing, Nagina, Kalka at Bitna, Kund Manethi, Meham, Nathusari Chopta, Butana, Sohna, Narnaul, Ferozepur Jhirka, Rewari, Sadhaura and Barara at Holi.

He said that another project for setting up exclusive wings for students belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in 17 ITIs had also been taken at a cost of Rs 27 crore. This project would add a capacity of 3500 seats for such students in the ITIs.

The names of ITIs in which these exclusive wings would be set up included ITIs at Sadhaura, Gannaur, Hassangarh, Kalka at Bitna, Nagina, Narwana, Gohana, Hansi, Kurukshetra, Adampur, Narnaul, Ferozepur Jhirka, Panipat, Meham, Ambala Cantt, Hathin and Pali.

''The government had also announced to set up 23 new ITIs in different parts of the state at a cost of Rs 80 crore, which would add over 7500 seats in next two years,'' he added.

The new ITIs would be set up at Kalanaur, Kiloi, Mattanhail, Chhara, Salhawas, Bhaproda, Kosli, Rawaldhi, Bahel, Panhera Khurd or Fatehpur Biloch, Naraingarh, Kushak, Ucha Gaon, Pataudi, Balsmandh, Dumer Khan Khurd, Kalayat, Nuh, Malrabas, Berli Kalan, Kharkhoda, Mustfabad and Pehowa.

UNI