Thermax Limited and Zensar Technologies are joining hands to set up a Skill Development Centre in Pune to enable young and underprivileged citizens acquire vocational skills and find jobs.

The two companies are partnering with Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and SGBS Unnati Foundation, an NGO which has done similar work in Bangalore and Delhi. Every year, it aims to upgrade the skills of 200 candidates from 18 to 35 years of age, and assure employment at the end of the 70-day training programme which is candidates will not have to pay any fee.

Mahesh Pathak, PMC Commissioner said, “The Centre is one of the initiatives from Pune to help achieve the ambitious target set by the National Skill Mission. We are happy that corporates like Thermax and Zensar are extending their CSR activities to take up this project.”

PMC’s Urban Community Development (UCD) department is providing basic infrastructure for the Centre in the PMT building, near Swargate. The Centre will start functioning from the third week of January 2014.

Unnati has designed the curriculum, and will select, train and place candidates in hospitality and retail sectors. Students will also be trained in life skills, communication, spoken English and basic computer usage. “Our program goes beyond employment generation. The aim is social transformation – a generation goes above the poverty line in 70 days, forever,” says Ramesh Swamy, Co-Founder and Trustee of Unnati Foundation.

Zensar and Thermax will fund the Centre programme, monitor its effectiveness through quarterly reviews and along with PMC will issue certificate to successful candidates.

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW