New Delhi: As of today, the estimated market value of vocational training stands at around 800 billion US dollars. By 2033, this value will reach 1.7 trillion US dollars. Our country can play a dominant role in this sector. With that goal in mind, emphasis is being placed on vocational courses through schools and Industrial Training Institutes throughout the country. Needless to say, this aim of NEP 2020 will play a crucial role in developing skill labor that will eventually cooperate to become self-reliant. West Bengal, the fourth most populous state in India with a significantly lower per capita income can potentially use these vocational courses to alleviate the economic status of its people. However, we need to focus on statistical data to understand whether West Bengal can join this race or not.
First, let us consider Gujarat. Currently, 57% of schools in Gujarat have vocational course facilities. According to government data until 2025, Gujarat had 488 ITIs, out of which 273 are government and 215 are private. In 2026 it is increased to 558. Gujarat has 30 ITIs exclusively for women and 19 ITIs specially for persons with disabilities. Additionally, under the PPP model, there are 8 state-of-the-art Vocational Training Centers, almost all of which are in tribal-dominated areas. At present, through the Chief Minister’s Skill Development Initiative, approximately 6.5 lacs young men and women receive training from these vocational institutions or ITIs. In government institutions, the cost ranges between 1,000 and 10,000.
Now let us look at the situation in Uttar Pradesh. In 2024, 29,342 schools in UP have vocational course facilities that reflects a significant increase in comparison to 96 in 2014. In 2025, there are 3258 ITIs are present in UP; out of which, 294 are controlled by government and 2964 are private. In 2026 this number increases to 3,310. In 2014, only 58,720 youths were enrolled in these courses but in 2024 enrollment has increased to 30.80 lacs.
Now let us examine the position of our state, West Bengal. According to the West Bengal government’s data, only 600 schools have vocational course facilities. There are only 307 it is in WB; out of which 168 are government and 139 are private.
Why is it necessary for the youth of West Bengal to know these facts? In Gujarat or Uttar Pradesh, a fresher with vocational training, the entry-level salary ranges between ten to twenty thousand. Alongside that, there are opportunities to start small businesses, farming, etc. Our population is approximately 1.5 times larger than Gujarat. Proportionately, we should have had 732 ITIs, but there are only 307. On the other hand, our population is about 2.5 times smaller than that of Uttar Pradesh. Accordingly, our state should have had 11,737 schools offering vocational courses, but there are only 600.
Gujarat’s Chief Minister Modi Ji had envisioned 2033 back in 2002. At that time, our Chief Minister Late. Buddha Babu was busy roaring in a packed Brigade ground, asking who Narendra Modi was. In 2017, when Uttar Pradesh’s Chief Minister Yogi Ji walked on the path of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas,” our Chief Minister Mamata Didi was busy talking about how she can put a rope tied around Modi’s waist to send him in jail. Therefore, “Yuvashree” a newly launch scheme by the WB Government just before election should not be considered as a welfare scheme; indeed, it must be considered as a compensation of state government’s monumental failure to fulfil youths aspiration.
With a job paying INR. 20,000 per month, one could earn INR. 2 lacs 40 thousand a year. In five years, that amount will be INR. 12 lacs. As compensation for failing to build the infrastructure, the Chief Minister is providing compensation of Rs. 1,500 per month, totaling Rs. 90,000 over five years. Should we be thankful or shameful for having such CM?