Punjab approves Rs3,300 crore for upgrading technical education

The Punjab government on Monday approved a Rs3,300-crore plan under which 43 new ITIs and 2,500 skill development centres would be set up in the state.

"With the setting up of the 43 new ITIs, which would cost Rs 1,200 crore to the state exchequer, the number of seats in these technical institutes would increase from present 50,000 to four lakh," an official spokesman said here today.

Besides the ITIs, 2,500 skill development centres will be set up at a cost of Rs1,800 crore, he said.

The government has also approved short term courses in skill development and hospitality trades in ITIs to be started at a cost of Rs 300 crore under Public Private Partnership, the spokesman said.

Meanwhile, the 13th Finance Commission has approved a proposal of Rs100 crore for creating additional training infrastructure in minority-dominated backward area of Mewat region in Haryana.

Under this project, eight new Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and Industrial Training Institutes for Women would be set up and four existing ITIs would be expanded in the next four years, an official spokesman said.