Women's ITI has generated ₹79L revenue

Mangaluru: The Government Women’s Industrial Training Institute in Mangaluru, which signed up for ‘Upgrade of 1,396 Government ITIs through Public Private Partnership’ scheme, has been able to generate Rs 79 lakh revenue from 2009 till date, by offering various short-term and long-term job-oriented courses.

The Women’s ITI, Manglauru, so far has been offering two long-term courses, and half-a-dozen short-term courses, to nearly 750 candidates on its campus, under the scheme.

They are now working in various firms across the globe, and few have turned entrepreneurs.

Balakrishna A, former principal of the institution, who retired two weeks ago, told TOI that the Centre came up with the scheme in 2008. Under this, government disbursed an interest-free loan of Rs 2.5 crore to each ITI. The objective was to upgrade ITIs, as the infrastructure and quality of training in these institutes did not meet the requirements of the fast-growing economy. To implement the scheme, an industry partner was required to lead the upgrade process. Also, an Institute Management Committee (IMC), headed by an industry partner, was constituted in the ITI, and registered as a ‘society’. The loan was repayable by the IMC, with a moratorium of 10 years, and thereafter in equal annual instalments, over a period of 20 years. “So far, we have paid four instalments of Rs 12.5 lakh each,” said Balakrishna.

Currently, there are five members from the government, and another five from private firms, in the IMC. They are given the flexibility to utilise funds for various purposes.

Balakrishna said that as per scheme rules, Rs 1 crore has to be utilised for upgrading physical infrastructure. The institution used Rs 85 lakh for the construction of an additional floor at the existing institution building, and another Rs 15 lakh for the modernisation of office and hospitality course classrooms.

In order to generate funds, and as part of the scheme, the institution started two long-term courses of two-year duration. So far, 150 candidates graduated from this course. In addition, 600 people were given short-term courses in beautician, artificial jewellery making, embroidery, phenyl and soap making, tailoring, and hospitality. “As a result, the institution generated Rs 79 lakh revenue collected through fees. It now plans to add two long-term courses,” said Balakrishna.

A month ago, the state government bestowed the institution with the ‘Best ITI in the State’ award, for taking up various academic initiatives. The institution has a total 220 students, pursuing six long-term courses, including two started by the IMC.