Skilled Manpower Essential for the Growth

Government is committed towards sustainable development and rapid expansion of the physical infrastructure in general and the power sector in particular said Shri Sushilkumar Shinde, Union Minister of Power while launching new Courses in 12 NTPC adopted and New Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) at various locations in the vicinity of NTPC power stations through video conferencing mode in a function held in New Delhi today. He added that efforts of NTPC and other Industry partners in the Institute Management Committee shall help in meeting the skilled manpower requirement essential for the development of the country.

Shri Bharatsinh Solanki , Union Minister of State for Power in his address said that to maintain high pace of economic growth, we need to ensure availability of quality trained industrial manpower to match the industry expectations.

Shri Rakesh Nath, Chairperson, Central Electricity Authority ; Shri R.S.Sharma, CMD, NTPC; Shri Anil KumarAnil Kumar Additional Secretary, Shri I.C.P. Keshari JS (Thermal), senior officials from NTPC and Ministry of Power were present on the occasion.

More than 540 new students shall be admitted in these newly introduced courses from this academic session itself. Out of these 12 ITIs, 10 ITIs are the adopted ITIs and 2 ITIs are new ITIs, starting from temporary premises to avoid delay in functioning. The new courses chosen are relevant to the local industry and in some cases addition sections in the existing courses have been added. The new courses being added are Electrician, Welder, Draftsman, DressMaking, COPA, Hosing Wiring, Telly, Electronic Mechanic, Instrument Mechanic, Motor Vehicle Mechanic and Electrician (COE).

NTPC has signed MoA at 17 locations in different states namely Korba, Badarpur, Barh, Tapovan Vishnugarh, Lohari Nagpala, Farakka, Kayamkulam, Simhadri, Ramagundam, Kawas , Koldam, Talcher-Kahiha, Anta , Mouda, Talaipalli, Faribabad and Dadri for upgradation of ITIs and is also setting up new ITIs at 6 new locations Sipat, Pakri Barwadih, North Karanpura, Nabinagar, Rihand and Bongaigaon.

New trades relevant to the local Industry are being added in most of the adopted ITIs. The ITI instructors are being trained to provide better education. The classrooms and the institute buildings are being repaired. New machinery is being purchased for laboratories and the workshops. The Libraries of the ITIs shall be getting new books. A detailed action plan has been chalked out by the Nodal Officers of these projects/ plants and the same is being implemented.

The ITIs are the backbone of Vocational education in India and they provide the workforce required for doing the skilled jobs in the Industry. Over the years it has been felts that there is a mismatch between the trained manpower produced by the ITIs and those required by the industry. In addition a huge shortage of skilled manpower has been felt in construction and power generation industry due to boom in infrastructure growth. Realizing this, Govt of India has launched a number of Schemes for the upgradation of ITIs and NTPC is partnering with State and Central Govt. in this critical effort. (EOM)