By In a move aimed at strengthening skill development and creating industry-ready talent, the Haryana government is preparing to introduce specialised courses related to the sugar industry in Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) across the state. The initiative is expected to open new employment avenues for young people while helping sugar mills address their growing demand for trained professionals.
The proposal received a major push after Haryana Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi directed the formation of a committee to design the framework for these industry-specific programmes. The panel, to be headed by the Principal Secretary of the Youth Empowerment and Entrepreneurship Department, has been asked to submit its recommendations within 14 days.
Reviewing the proposal during a high-level meeting, Rastogi emphasized the need to align vocational education with the evolving requirements of industries. He said that skill development programmes must be designed in a way that enhances employability while ensuring that businesses have access to a qualified and technically skilled workforce.
Officials discussed a wide range of technical, vocational, and diploma-level programmes that could be introduced through ITIs and other training institutions. The focus is on creating a curriculum that combines classroom learning with practical industry exposure, enabling students to gain hands-on experience before entering the workforce.
One of the key ideas discussed during the meeting was the possibility of conducting certain training programmes directly within sugar mill premises. Such an arrangement would allow trainees to learn in a real industrial environment and better understand the operational requirements of the sector.
The meeting also reviewed courses identified by the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), the Directorate General of Training (DGT), and other recognised institutions. Proposed programmes include agro-processing, sugar processing operations, boiler operations, mechanical maintenance for chemical plants, quality control, sugar boiling, instrumentation and automation, environmental science, productivity management, and specialised diplomas in sugar technology and sugar engineering.
Officials believe that introducing these courses could significantly improve the availability of skilled manpower for Haryana’s sugar industry while providing students with access to niche career opportunities in a sector that plays an important role in the state’s rural economy.
Currently, the Skill Development and Industrial Training Department offers 89 trades for students after Class 8 and Class 10. Institutions affiliated with the Directorate General of Training are also running 169 Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS) courses. Popular trades such as electrician, fitter, welder, turner, refrigeration and air-conditioning, and instrument mechanic are already available in state-run ITIs.
Senior officials, including Principal Secretary Rajeev Ranjan and Haryana State Cooperative Sugar Mills Federation Managing Director Shakti Singh, were present during the meeting.
