Rs 2,000 Monthly Stipend For ATC Students: CM

Chief Minister Revanth Reddy today announced a monthly scholarship of Rs 2,000 for students undergoing training at Advanced Technology Centres (ATCs, the erstwhile ITIs).

He directed IT and Industries Minister Sridhar Babu to seek special funds from Finance Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka to ensure timely disbursal of the stipends.

Inaugurating the ATCs (upgraded ITI institutions), Reddy, speaking at the Mallepally ATC, said that the students trained at these centres would also be offered apprenticeship opportunities in the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC). He instructed Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar to facilitate these placements.

Reddy also announced plans to create a special department to provide overseas job opportunities for the technically trained youth. He urged students to compete with countries including Japan and Germany in advanced technology, and added that Japan was ready to teach the Japanese language and offer employment opportunities.

"Our youth should actively participate in rebuilding Telangana and help achieve a $3 trillion economy by 2047," he said.

He claimed that the ITIs were first established by the Congress government in 1956, and that the inauguration of 65 ATCs in a single day was proof of his government's commitment to advanced technical education. He said an additional 51 ATCs had been sanctioned and would be completed within the year. He criticised the previous BRS government for "neglecting" the ITIs, and said that courses were not upgraded and technical training was ignored, weakening the institutions. The Congress government was trying hard to remedy that damage, he said.

"Education alone can change destiny. Use ATCs to upgrade your skills and secure jobs," he told students, and urged them to stay away from drugs and focus on building a strong future.