As many as 426 ITIs in 33 states & UTs have been selected under World Bank assisted  Skills Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhancement (STRIVE) project, Minister of State for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Rajeev Chandrasekhar said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha. Also, 33 industry clusters in 12 states have been selected under the project.

What is STRIVE project?

• Skills Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhancement (STRIVE) project is a World Bank assisted project with the objective of improving the relevance and efficiency of skills training provided through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and apprenticeships.

• The financial agreement was signed between the Indian government and International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) on December 19, 2017 and the closing date of the project is November 2022. 

• It is an outcome focused scheme marking a shift in government’s implementation strategy in vocational education and training from inputs to results. 

• It is aimed at institutional reforms and improving quality and market relevance of skill development training programmes in long term vocational education training.

• It shall incentivize ITIs to improve overall performance including apprenticeship by involving SMEs, business associations and industry clusters. 

• The project aims to develop a robust mechanism for delivering quality skill development training by strengthening institutions such as State Directorate of Training & Employment, Central Staff Training and Research Institute (CSTARI), National Instructional Media Institute (NIMI), National Skills Training Institutes (NSTIs), ITIs, etc.

• It is a Central Sector Scheme (CSS) with a budget outlay of Rs 2,200 crore covering the following four result areas:

i) Improved performance of ITI.

ii) Increased capacities of state governments to support ITIs and apprenticeship training.

iii) Improved teaching and learning.

iv) Improved and broadened apprenticeship training.

Progress of the project

• A total of 426 ITIs, including 29 private ITIs, from 33 states have been selected to participate in the programme.

• Gender study was conducted by an external agency is to identify key constraints in female participation in skills training so that remedial action can be taken to enhance female participation.

• Capacity building workshops organised for ITI principals, Institute Management Committee (IMC) chairmen, Industry Clusters and state officials.

• Baseline collation and correction is completed for the project ITI and state departments.

• Creation of Monitoring portal to capture the financial disbursement and track the KPIs for ITI is completed and now live.

• Industry cluster/associations have been physically visited to build their capacity on implementation of project.

• Workshop on environmental and social aspects under STRIVE for 17 state level nodal officers has been conducted.

• Over 25 workshops on STRIVE for various stakeholders in Delhi and various regional locations have been completed till date.

• More than Rs 325.52 crore have been disbursed to various implementing agencies.

• 13,394 officials have been trained under NSQF compliance

Directorate General of Training (DGT)

• The Directorate General of Training (DGT) in ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship is the apex organisation for development and coordination at national level for the programmes relating to vocational training including women’s vocational training.

• Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) are under the administrative and financial control of state governments or Union Territory administrations.

• DGT operates vocational training schemes in some of the specialised areas through field institutes under its direct control. 

• Development of these programmes at national level, particularly in the area concerning common policies, common standards and procedures, training of instructors and trade testing are the responsibility of the DGT. 

Major functions of the DGT are:

• To frame overall policies, norms and standards for vocational training.

• To diversify, update and expand training facilities in terms of craftsmen and crafts instructor training.

• To organise and conduct specialized training and research at the specially established training institutes.

• To implement, regulate and increase the scope of training of apprentices under the Apprentices Act, 1961.

• To organise vocational training programmes for women.

• To provide vocational guidance and employment counseling.

• Assist scheduled castes/scheduled tribes and persons with disabilities by enhancing their capabilities for wage employment and self employment.

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