Asserting his government's resolve to focus on economic growth through human resource development, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said there was a need for a comprehensive and trade-specific Skill Development Policy.

There was a need also for overhauling the educational system so that the state could meet present-day challenges of skill development for both domestic and foreign markets, Abdullah said at a meeting to review current efforts towards skill development in the state on Friday.

Referring to the steps being taken to address skill crunch, Abdullah emphasized the need for the consolidation of technical education institutions like ITIs, along with carrying extension programmes forward.

"This will enable ... (to) modernise ITIs and introduce new trades for skill development," he said. Skill honing has to be given first preference in order to produce proficient manpower for new and existing projects, including industrial ventures, he added.

The Chief Minister said the government was roping in big industrial houses to venture into the state and focus on large-scale development of micro, small and medium enterprises to generate jobs.

Commissioner-Secretary Higher and Technical Education N K Verma said out of 54 ITIs that were functioning one is in the private sector while 11 are exclusively for women. He said these institutes have a capacity of over 10,000 seats.