No visible progress
Construction of ITIs under MsDP scheme
Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, April 8: The works of 15 industrial training institutes (ITIs) under the Centre’s Multi-sectoral Development Programme (MsDP) in minority areas in Assam are almost where they were in 2017.
The works of only five of the 15 under-construction ITIs are over, and of them only two have been handed over to the State Labour and Employment Department. The academic session in the two ITIs is seems to be remote.
According to information received from the State Minority Welfare and Development Department, Rs 429.70 lakh for each of the 15 ITIs being constructed in the State was sanctioned in 2013, and the construction works were started in that year. However, even after five years, works of most of the industrial training institutes are at stages where they were in 2017.
According to the progress report of the institutes, while only 67 per cent work of the ITI at Dhanuharbasti (Jugijan) is over, only 46 per cent works of the one at Kathpara in gaon district is completed. The institute is stuck is a land dispute. In case of the ITI at Amguri in Chirang district 85 per cent of works is over. The delay for the work has been attributed to the non-shifting of utility services like power lines. The institute at Soi in Cachar district has also been stuck in a land problem. Only 51 per cent work of the institute is complete as of now. While only 70 per cent works of the Kuchila ITI at Hailakandi is over, 97 per cent work of the one at Parbatjhara in Kokrajhar district is over, 88 per cent work of the ITI at Tapattary in Bongaogaon district is over, 71 per cent work of the ITI at Eraligool in Kamrimganj district is over. Non-feasibility of land for hostel is cited as the reason behind non-completion of the work in this ITI. Fifty-one per cent work of the ITI at Nidanpur in Goalpara district is over.
The three of the five ITIs that have been completed but yet to be handed over to the State Labour and Employment Department are located at Bowalguri in Morigaon district, Chottogirigaon in Dhubri district and Dalgaon in Darrang district. The two other ITIs that have been handed over to the department are located at Amingaon and Chhaygaon in Kamrup district.
The State Labour and Employment Department is to announce the curriculum of the 15 ITIs under the MsDP, besides making appointment of teachers and other staff in them.
The Centre had allocated Rs 70349.995 lakh in the 11th Plan, Rs 52526 lakh in the 12th Plan and Rs 14444.65 lakh in fiscal 2017-18 under the MsDP schemes to the State. During the 11th Plan period, the Centre released Rs 46892.62 lakh to the State, and of them the State Government could utilize Rs 42483.4 lakh. The Centre released Rs 46678.58 lakh under MsDP schemes to the State in 12th Plan period. The State Government could utilize only Rs 2073.31 lakh. The non-completion of the ITIs and other schemes under the MsDP is heavily laden with ‘defiance’ to the Chief Minister’s appeal to the deputy commissioners made on March 3, 2017 for the early completion of MsDP schemes in the State.