ONE-THIRD OF TRAINER POSTS VACANT IN ITIS

1,200 posts vacant for six years, may affect TN's goal of becoming trillion-dollar economy

- N DHAMOTHARAN

STUDENTS of Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in Tamil Nadu are in a mess as 1,200 of 3,500 trainer posts in these institutes, which function under the Commissionerate of Employment and Training, are lying vacant for the last six years.

The institutes were set up with the aim to increase skilled manpower to fulfill the needs of industries.

According to sources, the 1,200 vacant posts include that of workshop assistants, junior training officers (JTOs), assistant training officers (ATOs) and training officers (TOs).

"Around 320 of 350 posts of workshop assistants, who assist the JTOs, ATOs and trainees in practical classes, are vacant. Besides, around 850 to 900 posts of JTOs and ATOs who handle classes are vacant in ITIs. In the Coimbatore ITI for men, of the total 81 posts, 28 are vacant," sources said.