Andal, Feb. 11: Union power minister Sushil Shinde today said the government would collaborate with industrial training institutes (ITI) to train youths who had to give up land for power plants.

The minister was here to lay the foundation stone of the Damodar Valley Corporation’s 1,000MW Durgapur Steel Thermal Power Station.

Shinde said Delhi would try to provide jobs to at least one member of each land-losing family in central sector projects.

“We don’t want to neglect people who are giving up their plots for power plants. We have decided to organise a six months’ training programme for youths in collaboration with ITIs to produce skilled and semi-skilled workers,” the minister said.

Training camps would be set up in places where there are no ITIs, he added.

CPM leader Somnath Chatterjee and industries minister Nirupam Sen accompanied Shinde on the dais.

Before Shinde’s announcement came, villagers whose land had been acquired for the thermal power station had gathered at the venue, waving placards and chanting slogans demanding jobs.

“Don’t lose patience. Please be quiet and listen to our plans,” Shinde urged the crowd.

The plant is scheduled to generate power from 2010.

Two technical institutes have been set up in Sagardighi and Bakreswar, where new power units are coming up.

The DVC today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with four ITIs in Bengal. Under the pact, DVC will provide funds for infrastructure development in the institutes and for the training programme.

“The DVC will provide Rs 12 crore,” the corporation’s chairman Asim Barman said.