Making the impossible, possible

Sarah B.

While about 13 million youngsters join the workforce in India every year, the labour ministry reports that less than one out of four MBAs, one out of five engineers and one out of ten graduates are employable.

This highlights the significant skill gap that exists. With the formation of 38+ Sector Skills Councils (SSC), under the aegis of Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Government of India, the industry is gearing up to support the skill development mission of the country.

In this article, some journeys of skilled students are showcased, who have turned their lives around, thanks to their grit and determination, and to the enhanced confidence acquired through learning a skill.

“I intend to pay back, by serving those in need, using the skills that I have now acquired.” ~ Bhukya Shirisha

“I hail from a rural tribal background in Bhichanayak Thanda, Kesamudram, Mahabubabad, Telangana; I have one younger brother; my parents, who are daily wage labourers, have struggled a lot to make studies possible for both of us, in addition to feeding the family. I have always wanted to do my bit to help my parents,” says Bhukya Shirisha.Post class XII, she did not find gainful employment opportunities, due to lack of required educational requisites. “I did not know what to do next, but then when I got to know about the placement based skills training programme at the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendra, Warangal, I grabbed the opportunity with both hands. This was in June, 2017. This training programme has empowered me.

Now, I am working for Yuktha Restaurant inHyderabad. Within 3 months, I have been awarded the title of Best Steward!” says Bhukya with a sense of pride in her voice. Now that the young girl can help her parents, she is very happy.

Being the change she wanted to see – Sumitra Raj recollects her journey

Sumitra Raj belongs to the village of Pali, in district Korba, Chattisgarh. She has completed her class XII, and her father, Shani Ram, is a farmer by profession; he hardly earns Rs 4000-5000/- per month, with which he can barely support a total of eight family members, including Sumitra’s 2 sisters and 3 brothers.

An ambitious and dedicated young girl, Sumitra’s dream was to support her family, but she was unable to get a platform where she could showcase her inner potential and hidden talents. One day,during a block-level mobilization, she came to know about the Vedanta -IL&FS Institute of Skillsthrough pamphlets distributed at her village. She enquired about the training programme and took admission in the Sewing Machine Operator course after proper counselling and orientation.

This was a major breakthrough in her life. She attended the training programme, and after its successful completion was placed at Anugraha Fashion Mill Pvt. Ltd. as an sewing machine operator. Three years post her joining date, she still continues to work with the same employer. From her monthly salary drawn she sends Rs. 5000-/ home, every month.

“I never gave up; I never lost hope.” ~ Jyothi

“I hail from a family, which is not strong financially; for me, an opportunity that not only offers skilling, but also placement, was like God-sent. I was enrolled for the course of a Sewing Machine Operator at Kalike-IL&FS Institute of Skills, which is supported by Tata Trust, after which I was placed with Arvind Textiles” says Jyothi.

She says that she not only learnt a skill, but also a number of other attributes, which have helped develop her personality.Before joining the skilling programme, she recalls being shy and reserved, but with the help and encouragement of her trainers, she has been able to overcome that drawback by taking part in diverse activities that have helped showcase her talents and potential. What she emphasizes on is the balance between theory and practical, which has served her well in her current job too.

As Wilbur Wright once said: “It is possible to fly without motors, but not without knowledge and skill.”