Bhubaneswar, Sept. 1: The government is planning to increase the number of seats in various Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) to meet the requirement of skilled manpower in the state.

At a meeting of the technical education department chaired by chief minister Naveen Patnaik last week, it was decided that the number of seats of the government ITIs, which are affiliated with National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT), would be increased.

The number of seats will be increased from 200 to 700 through introduction of engineering courses in demand and phasing out those that are no more popular. At present, there are 29 such NCVT-affiliated government ITIs.

It was also decided that the total strength of government ITIs – existing, under way and proposed — should be increased from 9,936 to about 46,000. Special measures will be taken for establishing block level ITIs in the state.

Efforts will also be made for starting the ITI-Rayagada during 2013-14 and a special ITI for the physically challenged at Barang, Cuttack, during 2014-15 through NCVT affiliation besides opening of the ITIs at Gumma and Mohana blocks of Gajapati district. Apart from this, the department is trying to expedite the five ITIs and 10 skill development centres in the five Moaist-affected districts of Malkangiri, Deogarh, Rayagada, Sambalpur and Gajapati during 2014-15.

At present, approval has been accorded for setting up 24 new government ITIs by 2016-17. Of these, six will be established at Raigarh and Chandahandi of Nabarangpur, Khariar of Nuapada, Laxmipur of Koraput, Jharsuguda and Nayagarh.

“The locations for establishing 15 new government ITIs should be finalised besides the acquisition of land and other planning made expeditiously and the required additional posts of teachers, principals and other support staff will be sanctioned in a phased manner,” said a senior officer of the department.

It was also decided that all the government and private ITIs should be accredited to Quality Council of India for continuance of NCVT affiliation status of various courses.