Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today announced that the State government will soon set up new Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), one each at Kuchinda in Sambalpur and Patnagarh in Balangir respectively.

Youths of these tribal-populated districts will immensely benefit from the institutes, the CM said.

The government ITI at Kuchinda will largely benefit young people belonging to Kuchinda, Bamra and Jamankira areas of Sambalpur district. At least 240 students will be imparted training on four different trades, which have ample of scope for self-employment or job opportunity.

Similarly, around 240 students will be trained in four different trades at Patnagarh ITI of Balangir district as well. Occupational training methods will help develop their skills, Patnaik added.

It is pertinent to mention, as many as 251 blocks out of 314 (48 subdivisions out of 58) in Odisha have either government or private ITIs. With this, the total number of ITIs will reach 50.

Several youths have succeeded in creating their own identities in and outside the State after receiving training at government-run ITIs under the ‘Skilled in Odisha’ programme.