The World Bank is providing loan to improve the vocational training system in the country. International Development Association (IDA) has in June 2007 approved a credit of $280 million (equivalent to Rs. 1231 crore) towards central share for taking up the vocational training improvement project for upgradation of 400 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in June 2007.

No amount had been provided in the last three years.

The project envisages upgradation of 400 ITIs on a cost of sharing basis between central and state government in the ratio of 75:25 respectively except for north eastern states and Sikkim where sharing ratio is 90:10. The state government would be responsible for implementation of the Scheme in the respective state.

This was stated by the minister of state (independent charge) of labour and employment, Oscar Fernandes, in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

In another reply, Fernandes said that director general education and training under the ministry of labour and employment is implementing ''craftsman training scheme'' in the country. There are 5114 ITIs / centres functioning in the country. In addition to this the ministry of human resource development is implementing a centrally sponsored scheme of vocationalisation of secondary education at +2 levell.