Centre approves 22 new ITIs for NE

NEW DELHI, March 21: The Union Cabinet has approved establishment of 22 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in the Northeastern States and Sikkim through a Centrally sponsored scheme at a cost of nearly Rs 50 crore and upgradation of 35 existing ITIs at an estimated cost of Rs 49 crore, reports PTI. Stating that the Cabinet took the decision last night, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pramod Mahajan told reporters today that Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had recently announced an agenda for the socio-economic development of NE region which included doubling of the number of ITIs for imparting training in new trades over the next three years. The PM had also announced an outlay of Rs 100 crore to implement the Centre's decision. With the Cabinet approval for establishment of 22 new ITIs, the number of these institutes in the Northeast would go up to 57 from the existing 35. There were 4267 ITIs in the country by the year 2000 as compared to only 53 in 1952. Mahajan said the Cabinet also approved the retention of certain provisions in the North Eastern Council (Amendment) Bill, 1998, including the provisions relating to appointment of its chairman and inclusion of Sikkim. Mahajan said the Cabinet also approved the funding of recurring costs under Centrally sponsored schemes beyond 2002-03 under the Tenth Plan. During the second and third year, 75 per cent of the cost would be borne by the Centre, while during the fourth and fifth year the same would be 50 per cent, he said. Thereafter, the full operational cost would be borne by the respective state governments.