Dr Reddy’s Foundation, part of the Hyderabad-based Pharma major Dr Reddy’s Laboratories has launched a skill gap bridging effort for the youth, including those with disabilities called GROW.
GROW, emerges out of the Foundation’s experience and research to match present and future market needs for skilled workers. It will address the complex problem of youth unemployment through a placement-linked skill development program. It will be a natural corollary to the Livelihood Advancement Business School (LABS), launched in 2000
Under LABS, more than three lakh students have been trained. The `GROW’ program adopts a modular approach, which while assessing all new entrants to analyse the person’s socio-economic and educational background; focuses on understanding each candidate’s aspirations before suggesting a training module that will help them to move closer towards their goal.
The new initiative was launched for an NGO project, across the country in 110 centres on Tuesday. Inaugurating the new program, Dr Reddy’s Chairman, Satish Reddy said “Innovation is the key to keeping pace with the fast changing needs of the skilling ecosystem and I am encouraged by the Foundation’s effort to keep pace with present day industry requisites”.
There is a need to skill more than 40 crore youth by 2022 to bridge the skill gap and harness the demographic dividend, according to statistics.
Under the GROW programme each candidate is assured full support throughout the program and post completion, is connected with the appropriate industry for job placements. Alumni support is offered to each candidate. Candidates continue to receive assistance and guidance even post-placement, until they are in a position to independently move forward, a press release stated.