Ranchi, July 17: Tata Steel is set to start academic activities at its Industrial Training Institute (ITI) in Naxalite hotbed Tamar from August, after three wasted years that was noted for occupation of the building by CRPF personnel for the bulk of the period.

Tata Steel has given the onus of running the ITI to Nettur Technical Training Foundation of Bangalore.

The steel major had signed an MoU with the state government on June 5, 2009.

Starting in mid-2010, the central paramilitary forces began using the Salgadih-based ITI as the headquarters of its 11th Battalion. The CRPF personnel have been engaged in anti-Maoist operations in the rebel-hit block of Ranchi district.

However, this year as many as 42 seats will be on offer at the ITI, with 21 each for electrician and fitter trades.

According to the MoU, 25 per cent of the seats will be filled up through the state joint tests for ITIs conducted on July 8 by the Jharkhand Combined Entrance Competitive Examination Board, while the remaining seats will be filled through a selection process conducted by Tata Steel.

The ITI studies are open for matriculates.

Vishwanath Shah, special secretary in the labour, training and employment department, told The Telegraph that Tata Steel had sent a communiqué seeking affiliation from the state council for vocational training.

“The ITI is going to start courses in electrician and fitter trades this year. Earlier, we were unable to offer studies as CRPF personnel were lodged there. Early this year, the building was vacated,” said Shah, who holds additional charge of director (planning and training).

According to the 2009 agreement, the state has to provide land and building while Tata Steel has to arrange equipment, machinery and instructors, besides managing administrative affairs.

The company had the responsibility of spending running costs and securing affiliation from National Council of Vocational Training and its state counterpart.

The desire for quality and peaceful life among youths was palpable, as a long queue for application forms at the ITI was seen outside the institute when The Telegraph paid a visit. The ITI is situated along NH-33 (Ranchi-Jamshedpur road) near Salgadih, about 50km from the state capital and 75km from the steel city.

“I am from Tamar and I want to get admitted in the ITI. I have heard getting a job will be easy after earning a degree from here,” said Lakhan Mahto.

Tata Steel will also keep in mind that youths of the region, who may have been or are likely to be displaced as a result of the company’s project, gets training at the ITI.

Biren Bhuta, chief of corporate sustainability services, Tata Steel, said: “Today was last date for submission of applications. The forms were sold at Salgadih and Jamshedpur. At Salgadih alone, 1,850 forms were sold off while until this afternoon, about 1,300 forms were submitted. It will be a Herculean task for us to select 30-32 candidates out of over 1,300 applications.”

Shah added residential accommodation for the trainees would be arranged and that Tata Steel had asked the Ranchi district administration to provide land in the vicinity for setting up hostels.