In A First, J-K ITI Toppers Felicitated At Convocation Ceremony In Srinagar

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha presided over the event and also felicitated the ITI toppers at the connotation ceremony.

In a first, ITI toppers from 72 different trades taught at the Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in Jammu and Kashmir were felicitated at a convocation ceremony organised in Srinagar on Sunday, October 29, 2023. The convocation ceremony was presided by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who also felicitated the ITI toppers at the event. 

"J&K has the potential to become the top-most place when it comes to skills. We need to focus on these institutions because they're creating the future of this valley. Mission Youth and other academic institutions are creating opportunities for youth. We will create an industry for these passouts who will not only learn skills there but get a job as well," Manoj Sinha was quoted as saying by news agency PTI, in his address during the convocation event. 

Saurabh Bhagat, Commissioner Secretary Skill Development Department, said that underlined that over 12,000 students get ITI degrees every year. "Today, we felicitated the toppers from 72 trades in which we offer courses. Some of the students come from remote districts and they have topped at the national level,” Bhagat was reported as saying. He further added that some of the trades were added considering the requirements of the industry. 

“We have introduced Surya Mitr, Smart City technician courses, food technology. We are introducing new branches like robotics and artificial intelligence. The purpose is that our passouts are industry-ready," Bhagat said. 

Considering the huge investments being received by Jammu and Kashmir, the ITIs will play a key role in the development of the Union territory, Bhagat said. "ITI sector is going to play an important role in the industrial development of Jammu and Kashmir. We want to make this sector such that the youth should not only rush towards government jobs or white collar jobs. They can become entrepreneurs,” he added. 

Bhagat also emphasized the need of increasing the number of ITIs in the Union territory. "Our effort is to revise the syllabus, introduce such trades so that as soon as the students leave the ITI, they get jobs. More than 60,000 students had applied for the 12,000 ITI seats that we have. In some ITIs where we have automobile trade, we have 50 applications for each seat. So we need to increase the intake capacity," he added.

In the convocation ceremony, LG Manoj Sinha also launched an Innovation Portal by Jammu and Kashmir Science, Technology, and Innovation Council, Department of Science and Technology.An e-platform to keep a tap on the rankings of polytechnic institutes in Jammu and Kashmir ensuring better transparency was also launched during the ceremony.  The LG also launched a revised curriculum for the 3rd semester as per the New Education Policy.

(With inputs from PTI)

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