Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi dedicates 20 Swami Vivekananda Superior Technology Industrial Training Institutes (ITI) through videoconferencing, to encourage skill, research and development with latest technology. 

Gujarat 1st state to impart soft skill trainings at ITIs: Shri Modi 

ITIs must impart basic safety norms and procedures and even prepare youngsters in the field of disaster management: Shri Modi 

In a yet another initiative, Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi today dedicated 20 Swami Vivekananda Superior Technology Industrial Training Institutes (ITI) in the state through videoconferencing, with a view to imparting skill, encouraging original research and development and innovations in cutting edge technologies. With this, Gujarat will become the first state in India to start such specialized courses at the level of ITIs.

Talking online to the trainees at Chandkheda, Kubernagar, Keshod, Rajkot and Palanpur, Shri Modi encouraged them to develop skill in the next generation high-tech like CNC, Chemicals, Automobile Engineering, Automation, Solar and other sources of renewable energies.

Shri Modi stated that this is the 150th year of the birth of Swami Vivekananda and Gujarat has attached special importance to youth power, particularly skill development among youth. Shri Modi opined that the answer to whether India or China will lead the 21st century lies in youth power only. He added that while our nation consists of 65% youth, that does not mean the 21st century is ours. We must give lay special attention on skill development and only them can we realize the maximum potential of our youth power.

Talking about it is, Shri Modi said that Gujarat has ushered in major changes among ITIs. 30-year-old courses have been revised and latest technology has now been made available. He said that Gujarat was the first state that was imparting soft skill training to its ITI students. Shri Modi opined that it is important to accord every individual, whatever work he or she is doing with adequate respect and dignity. Shri Modi noted that Gujarat had also given the opportunity of keeping the engineering option open for ITI students, which in itself is a unique endeavor.

Shri Modi believed that ITIs must stand for top quality research and innovation. He added that there is scope for massive innovation in every field and that any individual can innovate.

The Chief Minister laid immense stress on safety norms, procedures and disaster management. He said that ITIs must impart basic safety norms and procedures and even prepare youngsters in the field of disaster management. Shri Modi believed that with skill, getting jobs would be much easier and this combined with will and zeal was a winning combination. (SKILL + WILL + ZEAL = WIN).

He said that Gujarat Government has opened the doors of Superior ITIs and now it is for the trainees to take advantage of them and realize their dreams. The aim should be to combine development and environment. He said the government plans to start evening classes and courses in soft skills, besides that in disaster management. These evening classes could also rope in retired professors and this again would be a win-win situation, Shri Modi pointed.

Shri Modi stated that this century will rest on the pillars of IT (Information Technology), BT (Bio-Technology) and ET (Environment Technology) and that skill development is crucial to these pillars. He asked ITI students to explore innovate ideas related to wind and water energy.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister asked industrial houses to join the government effort in starting more ITI courses. He wished youth from Gujarat surpass their counterparts in China. Gujarat is one state, which has accorded status symbol to ITI courses, he said.

Others present on the occasion included Chief Secretary Shri A. K. Joti, Labour & Employment Secretary Shri Panirvel and Director Sonal Mishra.