- ITI Cuttack developed various COVID-19 specific innovations for frontline fighters as well as for society
- The institute will empower migrant workers with short-term custom skill training for employability in home districts
- Organisations should take major efforts with the government in training and providing jobs to migrant labours
- It’s Time to Do Our Bit to Help the Government rather than Listing down What Government Should Do
There have been industry transformations in the past years and from industry 1.0 to industry 4.0, what we have learnt is technology decides the pace of the development of the country or any individual. From steam engines to AI Robots, everything has evolved with the help of young minds in the field of industrial and technical innovations.
Industrial Training Institute (ITI) Cuttack set an example by idealizing the time and developed technologically advanced equipment to help the society survive the battle. They put in use all the available raw materials and training staff to come up with products like service robots, multi-station hand sanitizer, UV Sanitizer case and many more with the help of the institute’s alumni.
In conversation with the Machine Maker Dr. Hrushikesh Mohanty, the principal at ITI Cuttack said, “We got ideas from various industrialists, we are connected to 13 industries, we did research and executed plans.” He took this as an opportunity to help and show the skill his institute possesses.
Innovation’s ideation and execution
Dr. Mohanty’s profound knowledge in the field of industrial automation could find no better opportunity for him than the pandemic to put his skills to use. The two most revolutionary ideas he came up with the help of their industrial knowledge partner SAK robotics were of developing service and surveillance robots named COBOT and NIGABOT respectively.
COBOT and NIGABOT are remote-operated robots with the primary aim of eliminating human contact for simpler services
Doctors at government hospitals have found the robot exceptionally useful as it not only reduces the risks of COVID but also gives them time efficient and hassle-free operational capacity. The megabit, a telepresence robot, comes with another technologically advanced feature of creating a virtual space for people to consult the doctors without actually having any physical contact. They overcame challenges like difficulty in getting the required raw materials due to the limitations of the lockdown along with long procedures and delayed procurement permissions from the government to carry on the developments.
All the innovations ranging from contactless sanitizer dispenser, mask sample kiosk, UV sanitizer, etc, every development was executed by an organised cross-functional team of various trades. The robots have created a way of minimizing human activity and movement for simpler tasks
Educational shift
With educational institutions being shut for almost three months, digital means came to the rescue. At ITI also they opted for online training platforms where every trainer was engaged to provide all the possible theory over the internet. But the real question is though virtual classes have managed to keep the learning going, how far this will go. The motto of all-round development cannot be achieved in this manner. Dr. Mohanty expressed that it is a big challenge for them as to provide complete knowledge virtual screens are not enough. They are trying to associate with companies that will provide solution-based teaching to their students. I have engaged all my trainers in production tasks delegated by ISRO to increase their intellectual infrastructure
Migrant training and employment
Migrant labours faced an unforeseen disruption in their daily way of operation and situations made them return to their native places to supplement their families and themselves. Dr. Mohanty informed that they have started with mapping down the schemes for the migrants and would start with their short-term custom skill training so that they can grow their potential to fetch employment in their own districts. They have 5000 migrant labours return to Cuttack and are chalking down ways to provide them efficient help in safeguarding their futures.
Individual contributions
According to him, the government has provided them much flexibility and funds to carry out these productions as well as online training. When asked about his expectations from the government, Dr. Mohanty unlike others highlighted that this is the time to help the government, to look out for their schemes and give individual contributions rather than listing down what government must do. He tends to initiate help to migrants and urges others to provide jobs to them so that the government can completely focus on fighting with the pandemic and strengthening the economy.
Word for young aspirants
Being the principal of a renowned institution, he opined that students often have second thoughts when it comes to opting for industrial training and skills as their profession. He tends to change the mentality on the grounds of determination and that the coming times depend completely on indigenous innovations.
Institute can be small or big, can be skill or knowledge-based but if one’s attitude is right, if one wants to do something one can achieve it.
Dr. Hrushikesh Mohanty
Principal, Govt ITI Cuttack
He feels there is no excuse for not helping and contributing to the nation, any place or resource is big enough to support the country while it fights with the crisis one can help it maintain the long earned name in the fields of manufacturing. The changing times have changed the teaching and learning ways but the idea of rising as a global power must be the common goal.
For more details visit- http://iticuttack.in/
