Hundreds of students from Rewari, Pataudi and Mahendergarh, and from across other parts of the State are honing their technical skills at the Industrial Training Institute (ITI) in Gurgaon, which is one of the oldest ITIs in the State. With Gurgaon being the hub of industrial activity in the region, these students prefer to join the ITI here, as it is then easy to get (job) placement after the training. Companies like Maruti, Hero, Denso and large automobile ancillaries and vendors recruit the young boys and girls from this Institute, because they are fairly assured of the good training, and the rigour of the curriculum. In fact the presence of industry has also helped in building strong linkages of the Institute with different sectors, which has allowed it to set up specialised courses for different trades. One of ITI Gurgaon’s biggest achievements has been the Centre of Excellence for the Automobile sector, as Gurgaon is one of the largest hubs of automobile (especially 2 wheeler) production in India. Devanand, Acting Principal and Placement Officer of ITI Gurgaon says that their primary objective is to train youth in trades that are in demand in the industrial sector - particularly automobiles. “We are able to place around 1000 students every year because good training is imparted to the students in our workshops and classrooms. A very rigorous syllabus is followed and no student is allowed to sit for the exams if his/her attendance is not 80 per cent,” he asserts. The Institute at present trains around 1,200 youth every year in a large 17 acres campus, where facilities for women have also been created. Devanand says that girl students perform equally well in the Engineering trades – in fact they are more focused and disciplined. The life for a young trainee is indeed busy, as classes start at 9 in the morning and continue upto 5 pm.
Talking about the Centre of Excellence, Devanand says that Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. (MSIL) has partnered with the Haryana government to upgrade the ITI into a world-class Institute, and has set up the Centre of Excellence to produce skilled technical hands that can be readily employable in the auto industry. For this, ITI has been benchmarked against prestigious technical institutes across the country. Devanand says that to transform the Institute, which has around 140 staff including 70 teachers, an Institute Managing Committee has been formed. It includes a government representative and a partner from the private sector - which at present is Maruti Suzuki. It is due to this collaboration that a dedicated team from the Company, led by a senior official, has embarked on the process to upgrade this ITI. “The goal is to provide quality education through a well-equipped set up, workshops and motivated teachers,” says Devanand. The process for improving the course structure in the auto sector is a continuous cycle, and areas like curriculum, faculty development and building of capacity have been taken up. To make the teachers aware about the latest industry practices in the automobile sector, regular visits are organised to the MSIL plants. The Company is emphasizing on the improvement of teaching and behavioural skills of the teachers, as a majority of the students come from rural areas and the lower middle class of society. The fees at this Institute has been kept very low, to ensure that any child who is interested in the technical trades should come forward, and is not discouraged by lack of resources. The monthly fee is between Rs. 40 to 50 all-inclusive, reveals an official. Devanand says that MSIL employees also participate in the training programmes, which is of great help to the students. One of the most popular initiatives started by the ITI is the ‘Rope-in, Rope-Out’ Session for new trainees, who are imparted soft and team-playing skills by the seniors. The ‘Rope Out’ involves special training to the students who are ‘passing out’, and is given by professionals.
With the setting up of the Centre of Excellence, a number of large industries based in Gurgaon have started partnering with the ITI, for various initiatives:
Special Schemes to train Workers
Apart from the usual courses, ITI Gurgaon has launched a number of schemes that are short term and based on the demand in the industry. One of them is the Modular Employable Skills (MES) Scheme. Devanand says that such courses are run in consultation with the industry, and are backed by the Central government. MES aims to develop a minimum skill-set that is necessary for gainful employment in the industry, and targets those who are school drop-outs and/or do not have the necessary educational qualification. Another Scheme, to help the Building industry, is through the Construction Industry Development Council (CIDC). The goal of CIDC is to train workers in construction and project management, help in the grading of workers, ensure contractors are also trained in taking up complex projects, and ensure quality in delivery. Devanand adds that the Institute also runs Apprentice Training Programmes, where the students are sent to work in industries for a period of six months. “These programmes help the students to learn in actual working conditions, and ensure that they learn on the job,” he adds.
Some key areas of focus, as identified by the Institute as well as students, are:
Training: The entire Training programme and Syllabus at the ITI is designed by the Directorate General of Industrial Training (DGIT). The training schedules, manuals, and exam schedules are constantly monitored by DGIT, says Devanand, and the papers for the examinations of students are also sent by them. “The practicals are conducted by the Institute itself, but these are rigorous,” he informs. The reason for the Institute being so focused is that industry today demands shopfloor-ready candidates, who are able to perform from the first month - if not from the
first day.
Women students: Thirty per cent reservation for women has been prescribed by the government, in all trades in these institutes. Girls from in and around Gurgaon, particularly from the rural areas, join the Computer and Programming course, Sewing course and other related courses, as there is good chance of getting employed after completing these courses. Bhavna, who comes from Mundakhera Village near Jhajjar, says, “I come from a village, but still my parents have supported me. I want to learn here and then work in a good company in Gurgaon.” However, the daily travel of more than 60 kilometres is tiring, and like many other students she wants that the Institute should have its own bus, to cater to the large number of students coming from her area. Rajan, who comes from Pataudi, also says that the Institute must have a bus of its own, as students have to ‘suffer’ – needing to change autos, buses and/or trains. “One bus can help a lot of students particularly girls,” he asserts. Another student, Savitri, from Nathupur Village in Gurgaon, says that facilities are good and teachers are very supportive. She plans to take up the JBT course, after completing the training here, as it will help her in getting a good teaching job.
Facilities on Campus: Despite being an old and established institute, the students at ITI Gurgaon feel that the facilities have not been adequately developed, as focus has remained on workshop training and books. Mahesh, a student, says that a majority of the students want a playground and a small indoor sports facility. Most students spend their time on campus just chatting or using social media on their phones,” he says. The ITI also does not have a cafeteria, and Manjit, a student from Electronics, says, “We stay here for the whole day and it is important that a reasonably priced eatery should be opened here,” he says. The lack of cleanliness on campus is quite visible, and the students point to the large open spaces that seem to have not seen a ‘jhadu’ for ages. The lack of conveniences (toilets) on the campus is also a major problem that the students have to face daily; sometimes they use the secluded parts of the campus, and a number of times they have to run to a decrepit toilet, which stands testimony to the neglect of the college authorities. Similarly, The students however agree that the quality of teaching and the equipment is quite satisfactory. They are also happy that they get a chance to interact with top engineers, due to the presence of a large number of companies locally.
Placement of Students: Devanand, who is also the Placement Officer of the Institute, says that they have developed good relations with industry in the NCR, which ensures that ITI trainees are able to get internships as well as final placements. “We have also introduced the semester system this year, which will make education and training more focused. The goal is to ensure that students are offered employment even before the Course is completed,” he says. The Placement Cell organises campus interviews, provides counselling, conducts skill gap measurement, interacts with industry, keeps track of alumni and works like an ‘employment exchange’. Every year it also organises job fairs, in which companies - both large and medium - come and pick the students as per their demand. Devanand says that due to the good performances of the past students, the companies come regularly and offer placements at good salaries.
What the ITI needs: The students say that ITI Gurgaon needs to upgrade its building and support infrastructure, and if possible build a hostel for girls and boys on the campus. Further, the course content, which is presently centralized in the hands of DGIT, should be handed over to the respective Institutes, so that it can be modified as per the demands of the local industry.
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