Telangana CM Revanth Reddy Launches Advanced Technology Centres to Boost Youth Skills and Employment

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Tuesday launched a transformative programme to upgrade Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) into Advanced Technology Centres (ATCs), aiming to enhance the skills of the youth and align them with industry needs. The launch event took place at ITI, Mallepally in Hyderabad, with Industry Minister D. Sreedhar Babu also in attendance.

In March this year, the Telangana government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tata Technologies Limited (TTL) to upgrade 65 ITIs into ATCs across the state, with a total investment of Rs 2,324 crore.

Chief Minister Revanth Reddy emphasized the outdated nature of skills currently being taught in government ITIs, stating that the 40-50 years old curricula no longer serve students in today’s job market. Addressing unemployment, a significant issue during the Telangana movement, he reassured the public of the government’s commitment to creating job opportunities.

Highlighting the magnitude of the challenge, he mentioned that 40 lakh unemployed youth are currently seeking employment. Reddy asserted that his initiative to upgrade ITIs into ATCs would equip the youth with the necessary skills to secure jobs, emphasizing the importance of having both certificates and relevant skills.

“Certificates alone will not help. You need skills with certificates,” Reddy stressed, adding that there is no need for youth to migrate to Gulf countries, as the state government guarantees job opportunities.

The Chief Minister expressed gratitude to Tata Technologies for partnering with the state to enhance the skills of students by transforming ITIs into ATCs. The project will see advanced equipment and technology installed in the new centres, designed to provide industry-relevant training.

TTL has already deployed 130 experts to train youth in these centres. Each year, 5,860 individuals will undergo training in six long-term courses, while short-term courses will accommodate 31,200 people. Over the next decade, four lakh individuals will be trained in these ATCs, a significant increase from the 1.5 lakh trained in the last ten years.

The total cost for the conversion of ITIs into ATCs stands at Rs 2,324.21 crores, with the state government contributing Rs 307.96 crores (13.26%), and TTL covering the remaining Rs 2,016.25 crores (86.74%).

These ATCs will serve not only as training centres but also as skill development hubs. They will function as Technology Centres for aspiring entrepreneurs across small, micro, medium, and large-scale industries. Additionally, TTL will provide job opportunities for those trained at these ATCs, which will eventually extend their services to polytechnic and engineering students as well.

This initiative marks a significant step towards equipping Telangana’s youth with the skills required to meet the evolving demands of the job market and drive economic growth in the state.