The State Government on Friday urged the Centre to sanction an Industrial Training Centre (ITI) and two Skill Development Centres (SDCs), each in 14 Maoist-affected districts.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik wrote a letter to this effect to Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Rajiv Pratap Rudy.
Patnaik mentioned that Koraput, Nabarangpur, Ganjam, Kandhamal, Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Nayagarh, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Balangir and Bargarh need to get one ITI and two SDCs each for bringing local youth to the mainstream through skill training.
He pointed out that under the Centrally-sponsored scheme ‘Skill Development’ in 34 districts affected by leftwing Extremism (lWE), “Odisha was sanctioned one ITI and 2 SDCs for five districts each.” These five districts were Malkangiri, Deogarh, Gajapati, Rayagada and Sambalpur.
However, since altogether 19 districts of the State have been identified as lWE-affected, the rest 14 lWE-hit districts also need to be brought under the ITI-SDCs as well, Patnaik said.
The Chief Minister informed the Centre that construction of all the five ITIs and 10 SDCs has almost been completed, equipment installed and utilisation certificate (UC) amounting to Rs 22.15 crore, 93 per cent against the Central allocation of Rs 23.72 crore, already been submitted.
These ITIs and SDCs have uploaded date in the Quality Council of India (QCI) portal seeking accreditation which will follow the NCVT (National Council for Vocational Training) affiliation as per procedure, he stated.
Though the training activities have already been started in the ITIs and SDCs i August, 2015 session, they await NCVT affiliation.