Extract of the Budget Speech 2004-05

(Hon'ble Union Finance Minister Sh. P Chidambaram  )

I am concerned about the quality of Technical Education in the country. Lest I be misunderstood, I am not referring to the IITs but to the ITIs. ITIs are the training ground for skilled manpower. The skills imparted by ITIs must keep pace with the technological demands of industry and the expanding universe of knowledge. There is only one benchmark for our technicians – and that is the world standard. In order to produce technicians of world standard, Government proposes to launch a programme in the Central sector to upgrade 500 ITIs over the next 5 years at the rate of 100 ITIs a year. Appropriate infrastructure and equipment will be provided, the syllabi will be upgraded and new trades will be introduced. This is an area where I welcome Chambers of Commerce and Industry to join hands with the Government and create a Public-Private Partnership model for designing and implementing the scheme. The selection of the ITIs will be done in consultation with the State Governments”.