MADURAI: Three industrial training institutes (ITIs) run by the government in Madurai district have achieved 100 % placement for the past three years.
According to sources, students of ITI in Pudhur, ITI (Women) in Pudhur and ITI in Checkanurani have landed jobs in private firms with a salary ranging between Rs 18,000 to Rs 25,000.
Speaking to TNIE, the principal of Madurai government ITI Principal and deputy director of Labour and Employment Department S Rameshkumar said “ITIs are producing skilled workers for the industries. Leading companies like TVS, Maruti, Ashok Leyland, Titan are recruiting our students. Apart from that we have MoU with 32 companies to send students for training every year with stipend,” he said.
He further stated that this academic year out of the total 1,020 seats available in his institution, 85% seats have been filled. Similarly, out of 244 available in government ITI in Checkanurani, 85% have been filled.
“Once the Class X and XII supplementary examination results are published, remaining seats would get filled. It is beneficial to the students coming from economically deprived sections. We give preference to applicants who have lost parents, or have single parents,” he added.
Principal of ITI (Women) KS Amutha said they offer four one-year courses including Cosmetology and Sewing Technology. “We are the only ITI in the state to offer Cosmetology,” she said.
Placement officer SR Amarnath said there is always demand for conventional courses like refrigeration and air conditioning, electrician, wireman and mechanics. “ There is no age limit for women candidates to join the course. For men, the age limit is 40. Ex-service men have five years relaxation. Based on the industry’s demands, we update the syllabus,” he added.
Academicians said ten years ago getting admission in government ITI was not easy. Those who got more than 80 per cent marks in Science, Maths in Class X exam would get admission. After the establishment of several engineering colleges in the state, slowly the trend has changed.
Chekkanurani Government ITI Principal M Asokan said that there was a slowdown in admission in ITI before five ago, because people had the notion that those who study in ITI can be placed in blue collar jobs whereas students studying in Arts and Science colleges, Engineering colleges can get white collar jobs.
“In order to remove the stigma, the TN government is offering incentives including stipend of Rs 750, free bus pass etc, creating awareness in government schools that ITI students can continue higher education. All these efforts fetched good results. Now the students, especially from economically deprived groups joining in ITIs, are getting 100% placement,” he said.