Feb 07, 2007: The New Indian Express

9 polytechnics to meet technical manpower shortage
Wednesday February 7 2007 11:00 IST
Kalahandi Will Have One

BHUBANESWAR: As the State stands poised for the big leap on industrial front, the Centre has sanctioned nine more full-fledged polytechnic institutes to meet the increasing need of technical manpower both inside and outside the State. The nine institutes will be set up during the Eleventh Plan starting from 2007-08.

Each institute will get a Central assistance of Rs 14 crore up-front for infrastructure development and recurring expenditure for five years. After completion of five years, the recurring expenditure of these technical institutes will be borne by the State Government, official sources told this paper.

A majority of these will be located in the backward districts of Kalahandi, Koraput, Boudh, Nabarangpur and Kandhamal while Ganjam, Sambalpur and Balasore will have one each. The ninth centre will be established either in Nuapada or Sonepur district. A decision will be taken after assessment of the demographic profile of the two districts.

In the Tenth Plan, the Centre had sanctioned one polytechnic for the State and the institute is under construction in the Naxal-infested Malkangiri district.

This will be functional from the ensuing academic session, DTE&T sources said adding, an Industrial Training Institute (ITI) will also be ready by the next session. The Government is setting up an ITI in the district at Rs 5 crore.

Since Grasim Industries is keen to put up a three-million tonne capacity cement plant in Koraput district, the products of the two polytechnics in Koraput and Malkangiri districts will have better job prospects, sources added.

Apart from 14 Government ITIs and 10 women polytechnics, there are 147 private industrial training centres (ITCs) in the State. About 125 blocks of the State do not have ITIs and the State Government has already initiated a move to establish at least one in each block through private initiatives.

The Government has also decided to set up a few special technical institutes in the State. While plumbing institute will be set up at Pattamundai in Kendrapara, Ganjam will have a special institute for gems and jewellery processing.