The new salary scale is set to benefit about 30,000 teachers, instructors and Group D staff of the department working on a contractual basis.

For part-time and contract teachers of ITIs (after Class VIII and Class X) the salary has been increased from Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,000 per month, said Minister for Technical Education and Training Chakradhar Maikap.

As for instructors, the hike will be from Rs 4,500 to Rs 5850.

For nearly 700 night watchmen and Group D staff working on contractual basis, the salary has been increased from Rs 400 to Rs 2,000 per month.

The classes of ITIs are conducted in government or government-sponsored schools across the state to provide six months to one-year diplomas in technical education.

The attempt is to make the student, who will not go for higher education, skilled enough to land a job or start a vocation based on the training.

However, the number of these institutes has been dwindling over the last few years.

A department official said that while about 2,790 ITIs were opened in 2005-06, the number as of now is 2,270.