HCLFoundation has signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with two Tamil Nadu government departments - StartupTN and the Department of Employment and Training (DET) - to enhance entrepreneurship and vocational education in the state.
Nidhi Pundhir, SVP of Global CSR at HCLTech and Director of HCLFoundation, and Mr. Sivarajah Ramanathan, CEO of TANSIM, signed a three-year MoU for HCLFoundation to support 100 startups. This partnership aims to foster entrepreneurship among Tamil Nadu’s youth, promote inclusive innovation and strengthen the state’s startup ecosystem for sustainable development and economic growth, says a release.
The second MoU, which is a renewal of an existing collaboration, was signed between the Department of Employment and Training (DET), Government of Tamil Nadu, and HCLFoundation. The agreement was formalised by B. Vishnu Chandran, Director of Employment and Training, and Nidhi Pundhir, the release said.
This five-year initiative aims to strengthen the vocational education system in the state through several measures, including the deployment of a Skill Rath (mobile lab and awareness unit) to increase outreach in communities, the upgradation of curriculum in select trades, training programs for both students and trainers of government ITIs and the promotion of sports to encourage holistic development, says the release.
“By providing access to vocational education and supporting startups, we aim to create sustainable opportunities that will contribute to the holistic development of the state. We firmly believe that nurturing talent and potential at the grassroots level is crucial for driving both personal and state-wide progress,” said Nidhi Pundhir, SVP of Global CSR at HCLTech and Director of HCLFoundation.