Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated Gramin Engineer Yojana during State-level ITI Convocation of Technical Education, Skill Development and Employment Department at Kushabhau Thakre Auditorium in the State capital on Tuesday.

Chief Minister Chouhan said that education has three objectives. To impart knowledge, to skill and to impart the values of citizenship. Skill is the soul of education, without it any education is incomplete. Knowledge tells us what to do and skill teaches us how to do it. Chief Minister Chouhan said that if youths acquire skill, then employment will also be easily available. He said that if we have to beautify Madhya Pradesh, it can be done through skill. Youth population is the largest in our country and this will emerge as our strength. He said that if youths are only made skillful, then they can do miracles.

Chouhan said that till now we have seen convocations on completion of graduation in colleges and universities, but today Madhya Pradesh is probably the first state in the country where convocation is being held on completion of courses of ITI students.

CM Chouhan said that today in the whole world, if anything is in great demand, it is the skill. There are thousands of such services, which people need every day and special skills are required for them. Chouhan said that the kinds of skills required in the country are supplied by our ITIs. The Global Skill Park in Bhopal is the result of inspiration from visiting the Skill Park in Singapore. Today, if children have skills in their hands, they will not remain unemployed. We have given continuous focus on skill development. Industrial training institutions have an important role in skill training. We are running our ITIs with quality education.

Chief Minister Chouhan said that new trades are also being started in the institutions of the state. At the divisional-level, work has been started for all ITIs to operate in well-equipped buildings. No stone will be left unturned to start the required trade, including Artificial Intelligence, as per the requirements of the modern times. Necessary technical education is also being arranged accordingly to ensure that children get more and more work. The Chief Minister said that the Minister for Technical Education and Skill Development Yashodhara Raje Scindia and the officers of the department deserve congratulations for the convocation.

Chief Minister said that there is an effort to connect industries and industrial training institutions. For the youths to start their own venture, necessary support is being given to them from the Mukhya Mantri Udyam Kranti Yojana. Under the scheme, there is a provision to give loans up to Rs 50 lakh to the youths for setting up their enterprise. The loan guarantee will also be given by the state government. The students of our state have talent. Student Shivam is going to Japan for world skill competition. Congratulations to all such students.

Chief Minister Chouhan said that efforts are being made to provide placement to the children of technical education by organising Employment Day. This month also, Employment Day will be celebrated on September 29. CM Chouhan said that there would be at least one ITI in every block of Madhya Pradesh, so that the youth would not have to go far for training. He said that ITI certificate is not less than any degree. Gramin Engineer Yojana: CM Chouhan launched ‘Gramin Engineer Yojana’ (Rural Engineer Scheme) under Sankalp Yojana of the Central Government by pressing remote button at ITI convocation. Chouhan said that by posting rural engineers in every panchayat, such engineers will play a role in maintenance of water supply lines, repair of water supply lines, guidance for houses of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and other works. He said that we will work on vision of rural engineer. There will be at least four rural engineers in every Gram Panchayat, who will contribute to facilities like electricity, water, construction works etc 3 star rating to 19 ITIs and 2 star rating to 96: Principal Secretary, Technical Education and Skill Development, Akash Tripathi informed that 262 Government ITIs are operating in 237 development blocks in 52 districts of the State. In 46 development blocks without ITI, 25 new Government ITIs will be started. He said that ITIs have potential to give admission to 46,008 youths in 57 skill based professions. Out of 82,271 trainees of the State, 71,838 trainees have passed in ITI exam conducted by the Government of India. So far this year, primary selection of about 4,507 trainees has been done by various employing companies. Also, in last one year, 14,330 candidates have been selected in various National Apprenticeship Fairs. 19 ITIs of the State have got 3 star rating and 96 ITIs have got 2 star rating in the country. Madhya Pradesh ranks third in country in terms of numbers of Government ITI. Distribution of certificates and prize money: CM Chouhan distributed certificates and prize money to participants of World Skill Competition in the programme. He also distributed certificates to 10 trainees who obtained merit at state level and 5 trainees each who started their own business and who got placements.