The Apparel Training and Design Centre, which has embarked upon an initiative to address the shortage of skilled workforce at the floor level, is encouraging and training women to carve themselves a career in the apparel industry.
Last year, the centre launched the SMART initiative – a 45-day crash course in skills such as sewing, cutting, tailoring, checking, finishing, packing and even machine repairs. Today, the programme has managed to attract several hundred people, primarily women from economically backward families.
While ATDC's regular courses in fashion technology train people to get into supervisory, management and merchandising roles, SMART (skills for manufacturing apparels through research and training) is targeted at the lower rung where there is a pressing need for lakhs of trained workforce.
Currently, there are 40 SMART training centres across the country. The Ministry of Textiles plans to have 100 centres by 2012-13. The target is to train 1.72 candidates in five years. The minimum educational qualification is class five and the course fee is Rs 1,200.
Tamil Nadu has taken a lead role in SMART with nine centres, across Chennai, Tirupur, Dharmapuri, Erode, Salem, Perambalur and Paramakudi, says Mr T. C. Balasubramanian, Joint Registrar & Principal, ATDC. “The State Government also gives a stipend of Rs 2,000 to each student.”
More centres
More SMART training centres will come up in Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, Aruppukottai, Tirunelveli and Madurai in two-three months. Tamil Nadu would have trained nearly 3,000 people the first year, says Mr Balasubramanian.
ATDC's Chennai chapter works with local councillors and self-help groups to create awareness about the course. Ms S. Kalavathi, an ATDC faculty, says: “It isn't easy convincing women to sign up for the course. Many of them are hesitant as it means spending at least five hours a day away from the family. Most husbands do not encourage them. But we have managed to attract several women after a great deal of counselling.”
Ms S. Shanthi, a student at a SMART centre in Chennai, says her husband's meagre income at a welding shop wasn't enough to support the family, especially her girls' education, prompting her to enrol in the course. “At the end of it, I hope to find a job at an export company.”
Ms Parameshwari S., another student, wants to set up her own “boutique” some day.
Eleven batches have already passed out of the three centres in Chennai; students have also found placement with exporters and domestic manufacturers at salaries of Rs 4,000-6,000 a month, says Mr Balasubramanian. Lingerie manufacturer Triumph and exporters such as Evolve, Ambattur Clothing and McCoy have hired from SMART.
ATDC says its job doesn't end with placement. “We also periodically ensure our students are treated well at the factories,” promises Mr Balasubramanian.