COIMBATORE: Students of Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in Tamil Nadu are in a mess as 1,200 of 3,500 trainer posts in these institutes, which function under the Commissionerate of Employment and Training, are lying vacant for the last six years.
The institutes were set up with the aim to increase skilled manpower to fulfill the needs of industries.
According to sources, the 1,200 vacant posts include that of workshop assistants, junior training officers (JTOs), assistant training officers (ATOs) and training officers (TOs).
“Around 320 of 350 posts of workshop assistants, who assist the JTOs, ATOs and trainees in practical classes, are vacant. Besides, around 850 to 900 posts of JTOs and ATOs who handle classes are vacant in ITIs. In the Coimbatore ITI for men, of the total 81 posts, 28 are vacant,” sources said.
An ITI staff in Coimbatore said that with so many vacancies, producing skilled labour force is difficult, and it may impact the state’s goal of becoming a trillion-dollar economy by 2030. “The Coimbatore ITI for men offers 26 trades (courses) and 1,500 students are studying there. As per norm, one workshop assistant, a JTO or an ATO should be there in a unit for each trade. Now, only one JTO or ATO is managing more than two units in some trades such as Mechanic Motor Vehicle, Computer Operator and Programming Assistant, etc,” he said.
“When junior trainees (first year) attend theoretical classes in the morning, senior trainees will attend practical classes. Vice-versa in the afternoon session. How can a single training officer manage classes in the morning and afternoon for the two units without a workshop assistant,” asked the staff.
The Tamil Nadu Industrial Training Officer’s Association general secretary N Ramesh told TNIE that compared to Coimbatore, the situation in ITIs in other districts is worse. “To manage this, training officers from other trades have to handle the classes of these trades. For instance, training officer of turner trade handles the classes of fitter trade in most of the ITIs. Hence, trainees cannot be imparted the required skill,” he said.
“Shockingly, only one training officer, apart from principal, is available for 10 units at five trades in ITIs located at Ottanchathiram, Manamadurai, and Denkanikottai. Trainees in these institutes are suffering a lot,” he said, adding despite several appeals, senior officials turn a blind eye to the mounting vacancies at ITIs.
A top officer from the Commissionerate of Employment and Training under the Labour Welfare and Skill Development department told TNIE they have taken steps to fill the vacant posts through Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC).
When contacted, Minister for Labour Welfare and Skill Development Department CV Ganeshan, who claimed that he was unaware of the issue, said that he would take immediate steps to fill the vacant posts after consulting with Chief Minister MK Stalin.