Girl Students’ Admission: Odisha’s ITI Berhampur Breaks Own National Record

Berhampur: The government-run Industrial Training Institute (ITI) Berhampur, which had last year created a national record for the highest number of girl students’ admission, has beaten its own mark in 2024.

From 747 in 2023, the number of admission for girl students has gone up to 814 this year, according to Dr Rajat Kumar Panigrahi, Principal of the institute.

The trend of girls rushing to enrol in male-dominated ITI courses started in 2016-17, and the number has increased every year, except for a couple of years.

The number of girl students was 32 in 2014-15, 61 in 2015-16, 70 in 2016-17, 153 in 2017-18, 301 in 2018-19, 276 in 2019-20, 430 in 2020-21, 470 in 2021-22, 430 in 2022-23, 747 in 2023-24 and 814 in 2024-25, according to ITI sources.

Of the 2,200 students in ITI Berhampur this year, 814 are girls.

More girl students have been seeking admission in ITI since the Odisha government started the ‘Sudakhya’ scheme, which provides free uniform, admission and books.

Four well-furnished hostels are provided to attract girls from rural areas. They are trained in various sectors from waste to wealth, and they are earning while learning, informed Panigrahi.

“More girls are coming to ITI Berhampur because we have introduced qualitative training with an aim of cent per cent placement in government and renowned companies,” said Panigrahi.

“Our girls have been placed in various reputed companies like Tata, Suzuki, Yokohama, TVS Motors, Schneider Electrical, Hero Motors, Freudenberg Nok Pvt. Ltd and many others. Every year the girls are also being recruited in public sectors,” he added.