Campus placements bring jobs to doorsteps of rural youth in Mandi

In a major boost to technical education and youth employment, more than 4,414 students from various government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in Mandi district have secured jobs through campus placements over the last two and a half years. The initiative, supported by the Himachal Pradesh government’s focused approach on industry-ready training, is proving transformational for thousands of young people in the region.

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Between January 2023 and June 2025, ITI Mandi led the way with 3,938 successful placements—876 in 2023, 1,477 in 2024, and 1,585 in the first half of 2025. ITI Jogindernagar facilitated 450 placements, while PWD ITI Sundernagar placed 16 candidates, including differently-abled (divyang) trainees in a special drive held by TVS Motors, Nalagarh. Furthermore, 10 female students from the Swing Technology trade at ITI Kotli were selected by leading companies.

A government spokesperson highlighted that under Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s leadership, a multi-pronged strategy was adopted to upgrade technical education. This includes smart classrooms, skill-based curricula, industry visits, placement training and modernised equipment, aligning education with market needs.

Director of Technical Education, Akshay Sood, noted that 25 government ITIs are currently functioning in Mandi district, catering to around 4,000 students. “We are regularly organising campus placement drives in partnership with reputed companies. These numbers are a reflection of our long-term efforts to enhance training quality and ensure real-world relevance,” he said.

Top firms have shown growing interest in recruiting from Mandi, with many offering salary packages ranging from Rs 12,000 to Rs 33,500 per month, along with perks like accommodation.

Several success stories have emerged from this initiative. Akshay Thakur, Arun Kumar and Namish from ITI Jogindernagar were hired by AR Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. at a monthly package of Rs 13,500 plus allowances. Kamlesh, Rahul and Hitesh, trainees in Turner and Welder trades at ITI-Mandi, were selected by companies in Baddi and Chandigarh. They credited their success to the training and placement support provided during their course.

Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan praised the state’s approach, noting that campus placements are bringing jobs directly to rural youth. “Earlier, students had to travel to metros for jobs. Now, industries are coming to them. This is real progress,” he said. He added, “This model—where modern education meets effective governance and strong industry partnerships—is setting a benchmark for other districts to follow.”