From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Nov 6: The B S Yediyurappa regime, which is striving to boost the State’s industrial growth, has entered into an agreement with Tata Technologies Ltd, Pune, for upgrading 150 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and increase employment opportunities to the youth.

Tata Technologies Ltd President Anand Bhade and Secretary of Karnataka’s Department of Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood S Selvakumar signed the agreement in the presence of Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa in Bengaluru on Friday.

The Chief Minister appreciated the new initiative of government- industry partnership, which is first of its kind in the country.

"This would enable youth to have excellent skill training based on industry demand and on the other hand industry would have skilled workforce,’’ he said.

Yediyurappa said the State and the industrial sector would benefit mutually from this agreement.

The scheme would create conducive environment for investments. The private companies are providing more than Rs 4000 crore under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities for the first time, the Chief Minister said.

Deputy Chief Minister C N Ashwath Narayan, who also holds the Higher Education portfolio, said through the programme it is expected that more than 1 lakh youth would get better employment opportunities every year.

As many as 10 new courses are being initiated based on the demands of the industries, he said.

Tata Technologies Managing Director and CEO Warren Harris said, “our vision of ‘Engineering a better world’ embodies this social project where we create a platform for students to be a part of the rapidly transforming ecosystem and get exposure to latest machinery, hardware, software, courseware and trainings.”

As per the agreement 150 government ITIs would be upgraded at a cost of Rs 4636.50 crore in partnership with Tata Technologies Ltd and other industry partners. Skill Development Training will be provided as per current demands of the industries.

Along with Tata Technologies Ltd, about 20 companies are contributing Rs 4080 crore from their CSR funds. The remaining Rs 657 crore would be provided by the State Government. These 150 ITIs would be upgraded at a cost of Rs.30 crore each.

It is intended to provide training in necessary skills to the ITI students based on requirements of Industry 4.0 and provide better employment opportunities.

There are a total of 1713 ITIs in the State, out of which 270 are Government, 196 aided and 1247 private ITIs with a total of about 1.8 lakh students.

T M Vijay Bhaskar, Chief Secretary to Government, P. Ravikumar, Dr E V Ramana Reddy, Additional Chief Secretary to Chief Minister, Gaurav Gupta, Principal Secretary to Government, Department of Commerce and Industries, Warren Harris, Managing Director and CEO of Tata Technologies Ltd, Dr K V Trilok Chandra, Commissioner, Department of Employment and Training and other officers were present.

Highlights of the Agreement

• The duration of the agreement is 10 years and 9 months. During this period, Tata Technologies Ltd., will modernise 150 ITIs, with new infrastructure, industry-oriented courseware, trainings and support for advanced equipment and software to benefit the students to get better employment opportunities.

• This scheme will be beneficial in developing Karnataka’s ITIs into skill training hubs of global standards.

• Tata Technologies Ltd., will strengthen training, counselling and placement cells (TCPC) to train, guide and create employment opportunities.

• Laboratories will be upgraded by setting up new machinery and technology. Action has been taken to plan appropriate syllabus based on the demands of Industry 4.0

• Electric vehicles, agricultural machinery, aerospace and defence, horticulture, smart city and other sectors would be the focus areas.

• 300 trainers from Tata Technologies Ltd and associate industries will impart training in these 150 ITIs.

Online training will also be provided in all government and aided ITIs in the State. Students of other ITIs, Polytechnics and Engineering colleges can also avail training facilities in these 150 ITIs.

Upgradation of Peenya, Hosur road, Bellary, Mysuru, Dastikoppa and Shikaripura Government ITIs of will be taken up in the first phase.