MANIPUR: CRAFTSMEN TRAINING PROVIDES SKILL AND SELF EMPLOYMENT

The Craftsman Training department under ITI promotes self employment with various skills of trades by replacing various machineries. This was stated by Shri. S. Ibochaoba Singh, Joint Director, Capacity Building Section, Craftsman Training, at the press conference of HODs organised by DIPR for highlighting the activities and achievements of the GoM held at DIPR Complex, Moirangkhom, Imphal.

The Directorate of Craftsmen Training was set in 1980 with the Administrative Secretary as Ex- Officio Director. The Directorate General of Training, Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, GOI lays down various policies and vocational training standards.The Craftsman Training has two Joint Directors dealing the ITI Section and Skill Development Section. The Nodal Agency for Manipur Skill Development coordinated under the Mission Director coordinated with the Department of Craftsmen Training.

The Craftsmen Training department has 11 ITI centres in Manipur comprising of 103 units and total capacity of 1769 consisting 1402 trainees excluding the newly set-up 2 units at Kangpokpi and Sekmai. The new ITI construction under the scheme at Sekmai will be inaugurated and its session likely to begin in the month of August. The other ITI unit at Kangpokpi has already got the approval of the government. ITI Lilong which has been earlier established and handed over to Private partnership.

Manipur Society for Skill Development also partakes in the Craftsmen Training like implementing central sponsored scheme, setting up vocational training project, enhancing skill development.

Various scheme such as Craftsmen Training Scheme, Apprenticeship Training Scheme and Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikash Yojana(PMKVY) have been launched to promote self employment. Craftsmen Training Scheme trains young persons (14-40 years) in the Government Industrial Institute in Engineering and Non- Engineering trades. The period for engineering trades is 2 years and non-engineering is 1 years. The minimum educational qualification varies from classes VIII to X. In the apprenticeship training scheme, passed out ITI trainees are engaged as apprentices in various fields in the government establishment, public and private and central establishment undertakings. PMKVY is a central sponsored scheme via MSSD to the state government.

Shri. P. Robindro Singh also said that theory classes were imparted to the trainees along with workshop sessions to familiarise with the concern trade. Beside, the department provides certain facilities like workshop, raw materials, games and sports, study tour, hostel accommodation etc. for the trainee. Several changes such as embroidery machine and computer have been replaced. National Council of Vocational Training (NCVT) also provides guidelines and syllabus for various trades.

The press conference was attended by Shri. S. Ibochaoba Singh, Joint Director (Capacity Building Section, Craftsmen Training), Shri. P. Robindro Singh, Joint Director (Training Section), Shri. P. Mohendro Singh, Instructor, Amarjit Raj Kumar, Assistant Program Officer while Smt. W. Phajatombi Devi, Joint Director IPR moderated the press interaction.