South Odisha gets technical education boost

ITI, Berhampur

The Odisha Government is planning to start two new polytechnics in Gajapati and Kandhamal districts and increase the number of seats in the ITIs at Berhampur and Chhatrapur in Ganjam from this year. The objective is to boost technical education in southern Odisha. The new polytechnics would function at Paralakhemundi and Phulbani in Gajapati and Kandhamal districts respectively. Sixty students each would take admission in the civil, mechanical, electrical and electronics and telecommunication streams in each polytechnic course, official sources said. The buildings of the new polytechnics are nearing completion and are likely to be handed over next month. The Government, however, is yet to appoint teachers for the new institutes. “We expect the Government to appoint teachers before the commencement of classes on August 1,” said the in-charge of the polytechnic and ITI Phulbani Principal, D. P. Patnaik.

Meanwhile, the Government has increased the number of seats in the Government-run ITIs in Berhampur and Chhatrapur in Ganjam by 340 and 378 seats respectively. The seat strength was doubled in the fitter, electrical, welder and electronics streams in ITI Berhampur, while three new trades — instrumental, mechanics and welder — have been introduced at ITI Chhatrapur, besides doubling the seats in the existing disciplines — mechanics, electrical and electronics. The total strength has now been increased to 1,300 and 567 in ITI Berhampur and Chhatrapur respectively, said ITI Berhampur Principal Rajat Panigrahi. He said infrastructure was being provided to accommodate the increased number of students. The Government has already provided instruments worth around Rs 80 lakh to the institutes. Two new buildings were set up on their premises at an expenditure of Rs 65 lakh.

Source: The Hindu