Shortage of engineers in steel sector: ArcelorMittal
Shortage of engineers in steel sector: ArcelorMittal
PTI
Bhubaneswar: With bright students choosing a career in the field of information technology (IT) over the manufacturing sector, there is likely to be a shoratge of talented engineers and skilled manpower in the steel sector in the coming years.
Shortage of skilled engineers in the steel sector was a concern that came to light when captains of industry attending an international meet on iron and steel-making, expressed fears about the impending manpower crisis.
Inspite of having 1600 engineering colleges in India, there is shortage of engineers required for steel industries, Sanak Mishra, CEO of ArcelorMittal’s greenfield projects in India, told PTI on the sidelines of the conference.
The world’s largest steelmaker ArcelorMittal which proposed to set up a 12 MTPA capacity greenfield steel mill in Orissa’s tribal-dominated Keonjhar district, was also planning to set up a model Industrial Training Instutute (ITI) close to its proposed plant, he said.
“Our ITI will start functioning before commissioning of the steel plant", Mishra said. Unless skilled manpower was generated in the country, he said, it would be difficult to carry forward activities in the steel sector which aimed to produce 290 MTPA steel by 2020.
“We do not have enough skilled manpower to operate steel industries. Most of the students find IT lucrative," Mishra said, suggesting the assembly of investors in steel sector to generate skilled manpower on their own.
Apprehending scarcity of skilled personnel in Orissa, the state government has decided to open ITI in each block. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said, “The industries have also been asked to set up ITIs near their plants to train locals."
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