Srinagar, Oct 30 (KNN) Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday said that J&K has capacity to evolve into the nation's epicentre for a highly skilled workforce.

Addressing the first Convocation of Industrial Training Institutes (ITI) graduates of Kashmir division, at Convention Centre, the LG said, “To turn this vision into reality, there is a critical role of skill development institutions, such as Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and polytechnics in the region.”

At the event, he instructed the Skill Development Department to conduct a comprehensive assessment of skill demands on a district-wise basis.

“This assessment will involve mapping the existing skills and aligning them with the demand, allowing for necessary changes in curriculum and introduction of new vocational training courses that cater to the aspirations and requirements of the youth,” he said.

LG Sinha called for establishing direct connections between ITIs and the local job market and industries, emphasizing the importance of relevant departments providing support to ITI graduates interested in starting their own businesses.“This approach aims to create a more robust and job-ready workforce to contribute to the region's and the nation's prosperity,” he added.

While acknowledging the historical significance of ITIs in the skill sector, the Lieutenant Governor pointed out that, with the rapid advancements in technology and the emergence of new industries, ITIs must evolve to meet the demand for skilled professionals in the evolving job landscape.

He recommended enlisting the expertise of specialists to provide training in Industries 4.0 and initiating a "Training of Trainers" program to ensure that instructors at ITIs and Polytechnic institutions are well-equipped to nurture the future workforce.

During the event, LG Sinha introduced a series of new initiatives, which included the launch of a Polytechnics ranking portal, the JK Innovation Hub portal, Centralised Academic Monitoring and Improvement System, and implementation of a revised curriculum in line with the National Educational Policy 2020.

Later in the event, LG felicitated the national-level toppers and wished them success in their future endeavours.He also felicitated the young entrepreneurs and presided over the Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony between the Skill Development Department and J&K Energy Development Agency (JKEDA) for the training of 500 Suryamitras.

Earlier, a booklet on Skill development in J&K was also released on the occasion.

The event was attended by Aftab Malik, Chairman, District Development Council Srinagar; Nazir Ahmed Ganai, Vice Chancellor SKUAST Kashmir; Vice Chancellors of various Universities, senior officials, Heads of ITIs and Polytechnics, teachers, and the parents of the graduating students were present.

(KNN Bureau)