Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi at an ITI. File picture

Aug. 5: A large number of upcoming projects have prompted the Bodo administration to make arrangements to educate its wealth of unskilled youths at Industrial Training Institutes being set up in Kokrajhar, Chirang and Baksa.

The first to come up will be the institute at Salakati in Kokrajhar.

It will be a public-private partnership project, with the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) chipping in with funds.

The capital expenditure will be borne by NTPC, while the recurring costs will be provided by the Bodoland Territorial Council.

NTPC is setting up a mega thermal power project with a capacity of 750MW at Salakati.

Since the project will require a steady flow of skilled manpower, it made sense to collaborate in the training institute, said an NTPC official.

“Initially, courses for fitters, electrician and welders will be introduced and training will soon begin from a temporary accommodation,” the official said.

Besides, there will be courses for vehicle mechanics, plumbers, and training on maintenance of electronic goods to make youths self-sufficient in their trade.

In neighbouring Chirang, the industrial training institute will come up at Kajalgaon under the Prime Minister’s Northeast package.

Civil work for the project has already begun.

“It is absolutely imperative for local youths to get trained in different skills as a lot of projects are coming up. Technical education has a lot of scope and a whole new world is opening up before them,” a BTC official said.

The estimated cost of the Chirang institute is Rs 2,55,73,521.

While the Centre has sanctioned Rs 1,27,86,700 for the construction of building, the state government has sanctioned Rs 54,76,700 so far, a BTC official said.

A few schemes have also been up under the Employment Generation Mission of the state government.

The third training institute will be built at Suklai in Baksa under a state plan.

Land for the institute has already been identified and work is likely to begin soon.

For the Baksa institute, the Centre has approved Rs 38,43,000 for civil construction, while Rs 25,24,00 has been approved for the Kokrajhar institute.

Rs 36,43000 has been approved for purchase of equipment and Rs 200,000 for consultation and other expenditure for the Kokrajhar institute.