The Industrial Training Institute (ITI) in Williamnagar in Garo Hills district of Meghalaya, which should have been a premiere institute to training youth for skillful employment, is in a sorry state of affair with practically no courses presently underway. To add to the problem, the ITI is being headed by a non Gazette officer with lack of manpower.  The Federation of Achik Freedom (FAF), an influential organization working in the district has sought the intervention of Deputy Chief Minister, Labour Rowell Lyngdoh and submitted their memorandum recently.

The body has urged upon the Labour Department to introduce trades like plumber, welder, mechanic (motor vehicle), preservation of fruits and vegetables, fitter, dress making, cutting and tailoring, masonry, computer education and other technical based job oriented courses.

The ITI has recently introduced stenography, which is not job oriented or relevant in an age of IT education. The federation has urged upon the government to immediately appoint a Gazette Officer to head the institute with appointment of staff for various departments.

FAF President, Jinthu Ch Marak said, 'The present strength of the staff members is totally inadequate to run any trade under the Institute'. He also highlighted that the ITI in Williamnagar has been in existence only for namesake. The union has strongly demanded that the matter is looked into immediately or else the federation will be forced to hold agitation.

(NNN)