by BIS Correspondent
MUMBAI, JUNE 30, 2017: For 476 boys undergoing skills training at St. Joseph's Industrial Training Institute (SJITI) the presence of VIP visitors to the institute is a common 
sight. Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Union Minister of State, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship had paid a visit in September 2016, a team from the World Bank had visited in March 2017 to understand how training was imparted. So it came as no surprise that Member of Parliament and Chairperson of the Parliamentary National Skills Commission Dr. Kirit Somaiya decided to visit SJITI on June 21.
Executive Director, Father Mario Vaz (DBCL) and Amarr Prabhu, the principal of institute, welcomed Dr. Somaiya, who is currently visiting various ITIs around the country to acquaint himself with their state and functioning and looking for concrete suggestions and improvements to place before the Indian Parliament for the enhancement of skill education in the country.
Dr. Somaiya visited the various labs in the campus and interacted with staff and students to get a better idea of how training is conducted. He was impressed with the modern state of the art labs and the collaboration with various industries that made the training industry relevant and the graduating students job ready. The principal then made a presentation about the institute and the challenges faced in the present system of admission and specially the burdensome structure of imparting technical education that dissuades students.
Dr. Somaiya distributed certificates to housewives who were trained as 'Driver-cum-Mechanic', an initiative of SJITI and the department of Social Change – DBCL Kurla . Addressing the students he mentioned that he had visited a few ITIs but to anyone who wanted to see how quality technical education is imparted he would specially mention the name of St. Joseph's ITI. He exhorted the trainees to dream big and work hard to achieve their goal. He urged the students to give suggestions regarding the development of skill training in India and assured them that he would take action to improve the technical education field.
St. Joseph's ITI has become a household name for quality technical skill training in India. Acknowledged by politicians in Delhi and pursued by the top industrial houses seeking to partner with the institute, St. Joseph's ITI, Kurla is proud to be a part of Skilling India.