The Department of Skill Development besides its other activities in the sphere of Vocational Education has been implementing Craftsmen Training Scheme sponsored by the Govt. of India in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir for more than half a century now. It has been playing a proactive role in cultivating and nurturing the industrial work culture in the State by equipping the unemployed educated youth with gainful training in the Trades emerging in the market both in the industrial and services sectors from time to time.

There is network of 54 Govt. Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and 28 Private ITIs located in the every nook and corner of the State offering training in many as 70 designated Engineering and Non-Engineering Trades. The Trades are need based and job oriented.

The Department continually made its sincere efforts to extend the scope and growth of ITIs even in the arduous and painstaking situations. With the ever-changing trend of technology, the Department did not remain static and stationary but constantly carried forward the process of revamping of the ITIs and revitalizing the Training Programme with great perfection to meet the timely need of market as well as the areas where the particular ITIs are located. As a part of this activity, the Department has upgraded and modernized all the old 37 ITIs by introducing modern courses and diversifying the obsolete and outdated courses with Centrally Sponsored Scheme. On the other hand, for not having the sufficient training facilities in the State for women, the Department established 9 ITIs and 46 Women Wings of different Trades/exclusively for women.

With a view to practically enforce Industry-Institute-Interaction in the ITIs, Govt. of India introduced two Schemes viz. Upgradation of ITIs under Vocational Training Improvement Project and Public Private Partnership. Under the Scheme Vocational Training Improvement Project, 10 ITIs at Jammu, Srinagar, Baramulla, Anantnag, Hiranagar, Rajoluri, R. S. Pura, Kishtwar, Kupwara and Doda have been taken up. Out of which 3 ITIs viz. Jammu, Srinagar and Anantnag have been changed into Centres of Excellence in the Automobile and Electric Sectors respectively. As regards the scheme of Upgradation, of ITIs under Public Private Partnership, 34 ITIs viz. Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, Pulwama, Ganderbal, Budgam, Bandipora, Sopore, Chararishrief, Kulgam, Reasi, Poonch, Sunderbani, Mendhar, Leh, Tral, Shopian, Pattan, Uri, Handwara, Ramban, Bhadu/Billawar, Bhaderwarh, Kangan, Pampore, Lalpora, Rohama, Kargil, Dharmari, Gool, Bhaleesa, Basholi, Kalakote and Surankote have been taken up under the scheme till the financial year 2010-11. Different modern and job oriented Trades are being introduced and upgraded under these Schemes in the ITIs.
Vocational Training is perceived to be the backbone of socio-economic development of the State/Country. The scenario of the State in this regard demonstrates that the industrial production (quantitatively and qualitatively) is still comparatively poorer than those of other States of the country. While the trend of employment has changed in the world, the youth of our land are still looking forward to Govt. Jobs losing their ages after pursuing aimless education. They do not benefit from Vocational Education in the true sense of its meaning. Let they induce themselves to Vocational Training and benefit from it by setting up their own enterprises, workshops etc. and create enthusiasm and fervor for updating their skills in future also as per the emerging requirements of market .This all will get rid them of unnecessary worries and embarrassments of unemployment. Let they prepare themselves to be employees and employers of their own firms and workshops from now on. The idea is proliferating among the modern generations in all the developed and under-development countries of the world.