Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay inaugurated electrical training labs at 30 government industrial training institutes on Wednesday, while the state signed an MoU with Schneider Electric India Pvt Ltd to establish similar facilities at 40 more ITIs. The first phase has been implemented at a cost of ₹5.1 crore, with the proposed expansion estimated at ₹6.8 crore.
The MoU was exchanged with Schneider Electric India managing director Deepak Sharma at the Guindy ITI campus. The labs are intended to give trainees access to industry-relevant electrical training and improve their employment prospects, according to details reported by Times of India.
The expansion places private-sector participation within Tamil Nadu’s government-run vocational training network. The state has not released further details in the supplied announcement on the location of the 40 additional labs, their commissioning schedule or the specific equipment and courses that will be introduced.
The programme was announced alongside recognition for students who performed well in state and national skill assessments. Vijay presented cheques of ₹25,000 each to 15 students who won prizes in the 59th state-level skill competitions. He also handed certificates of appreciation to 60 students who secured first rank in the All India Trade Tests, which assess the performance of ITI trainees.
The event also included the appointment of 673 junior training officers recruited through the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission for the employment and training department. Their appointment adds staffing capacity to the department responsible for managing and supporting the state’s vocational training system.
Labour welfare and skill development minister J Mohamed Farvas said the state government would take all necessary steps to equip students with skills required by industry. The statement did not specify the sectors or employers that would be linked to the new labs, nor did it provide placement figures from the first 30 facilities.
The next milestone is the establishment of electrical training labs at the additional 40 government ITIs under the MoU with Schneider Electric. The state’s announcement did not provide a completion deadline for that phase.
