EM Bains raises demands during Regional Conference of Skill Ministers
Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh–
To make Punjab a leader in skill development across the country by bridging skill gap with industry relevant training for youth, Punjab Technical Education and Industrial Training Minister Harjot Singh Bains urged the Union Government to establish an Indian Institute of Skills in Ludhiana and five ITI hubs across the state.
Bains raised the demands during the Regional Conference of Skill Ministers chaired by Jayant Chaudhary, Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. While addressing the conference, Harjot Bains emphasised Ludhiana's suitability for an Indian Institute of Skills, highlighting that 20 acres of land are readily available in the industrial city for this purpose.
Bains highlighted Punjab's remarkable progress in technical education, noting that since 2022, the state has doubled its ITI seats from 25,000 to 52,000, with admission rates surging from 60% to a projected 98% this year, while ensuring optimal utilisation of infrastructure and creating a more skilled workforce.
He stated that Punjab has undertaken a comprehensive overhaul of technical education, discontinuing obsolete courses and introducing 814 new trades designed to meet industry needs and driven by market demand. These trades were developed after extensive consultations with industry partners and Industrial Management Committees (IMCs) to equip students with in-demand skills, enhancing their employability and job readiness.
Punjab has established transformative partnerships with prominent industrial houses, including Sonalika, Hero etc. to bridge the skill-certification gap, the Education Minister said while adding that the collaborations ensure ITI graduates acquire both recognised qualifications and practical industry skills.
Bains shared that Punjab launched a first-of-its-kind B.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering (Industry Integrated) program at Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University (MRSPTU), Bathinda with the help of Victura Technologies Private Limited (VTPL) of Faridabad. This is first course across the country, under which from the very first semester the student will be part of the industry and the industry campus would be considered as a deemed campus of the University.
Bains invited Jayant Chaudhary to visit Government ITI Ludhiana, highlighting it as a model for technical education nationwide due to its advanced equipment and next-generation laboratories. Bains also expressed gratitude to Chaudhary for his consistent support, particularly acknowledging the cooperation in various technical education initiatives over the past three years.