Union labour minister Oscar Fernandes at a gym in JRD Tata Sports Complex. Picture by Srinivas

Jamshedpur, May 13: Tata Steel has offered to run all the Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in Jharkhand as part of the Union government’s endeavour to upgrade them to provide individuals with technically sound expertise.

Managing director of the steel major B. Muthuraman said this in response to a statement made by Union minister of state for labour and employment Oscar Fernandes, during the 20th Michael John Memorial lecture organised by Tata Workers’ Union.

Muthuraman said running the ITIs would be a part of the social responsibility, which is a fundamental part of the company. He said Tata Steel would be happy to be involved in upgrading the skills of the youth to enable them with employment opportunities anywhere in the country.

“Strengthening the training programme for youths has always been the vision of Tata Steel,” he said.

Earlier, labour minister Oscar Fernandes, who was awarded the coveted Michael John medal said plans are on to convert 300 ITIs across the country into Centre for Excellence and also upgrade 5,114 ITIs to provide techno-quality people. He called upon private players to support the government in their endeavour.

“Right now we have five per cent technically qualified people but our target is 50 per cent, and to begin with, the ITIs are being targeted. Apart from funds, the ITIs will be provided with loans, lands etc,” he said. A little over a decade ago what Silicon Valley was to the USA is what Bangalore is to Asia now, with Hyderabad, Pune and Chandigarh following closely.

“The focus is on the youth for whom education and employment have to be well taken care of,” said the Union minister, “since barely seven per cent comprises the organised sector and the remaining is unorganised labour, which means they are not getting paid regularly.” The main attempt of the UPA government is to empower youth by forming clubs, which would help them develop their personality, he added.

He singled out Tata Steel for being a role model in management-worker relationship.

Muthuraman spoke on issues like cost competitiveness, quality of life, cost controls, which play a vital role in the growth of a company. He was hopeful that there would be some from the worker’s cadre who would rise to the management level, for which the company is doing its best.