The Planning Commission has given its nod for establishment of 1,500 ITIs and 5,000 'skill development centres' keeping in mind the growing demand of skilled professionals in various sectors.

These institutes would be coming up in unserviced blocks across the country, the Lok Sabha was informed on Monday.

Labour and Employment Minister Oscar Fernandes said about 400 government ITIs are also being upgraded under World Bank assistance and about 100 through domestic funding.

Besides, about 1,396 government ITIs are being upgraded through PPP mode.

In a written reply, he informed that though the 'government has not carried out any specific survey about shortage of skilled professionals in the country', it has initiated several measures to equip professionals with necessary skills in context of the faster economic growth.

He said that new ITIs are also being established in the North Eastern states and Jammu and Kashmir and existing institutes in the region are being strengthened.

Short-term modular employable skills under 'skill development initiative' in 340 modules covering various sectors of the economy have also been taken up, he said.