CHANDIGARH—Regional Centre for Entrepreneurship Development (RCED) Chandigarh signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Tech Mahindra Foundation to set up a SMART vocational training centre at Chandigarh with a target of conducting skill based training programs for 240 candidates in the Financial Year 2015-16.
SMART training centre is inaugurated at sector 35, Chandigarh by Dr. Loveleen Kacker, IAS (Retd.) CEO of Tech Mahindra Foundation and Mr. K.A.P.Sinha, IAS, Secretary to the Govt. of Punjab, Department of Science & Technology & Environment.
Mr Paramjit Singh, principal director, RCED told that 87 candidates from tri-city have been enrolled for the programs. Tech Mahindra Foundation (TMF) was supporting the training programme under ‘Education to Employment’.
It trains the youth in various courses including Information Technology (IT), Tally, hospitality, Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), retail and sales, nurse aids, personal grooming services and tailoring. Aims at improving the candidate’s English communication skills, self-confidence and job-readiness and connects them to potential employers for placement.
Mr Singh further told that the program was specially designed for the plus two pass out students of under privileged/ marginalized communities The 3-month training is being free of cost. Training is provided in 3 different skills/courses, Financial Accounting & Tally, relationship & Sales – Retail Sector and Hospitality Sector.
For the Mobilization of candidates pamphlets printed in both Hindi & English were distributed, posters were displayed on the notice board of some of the colleges in the tricity and Awareness Camps were conducted in selected areas where the marginalized communities predominate.
Mrs. Harjinder Kaur, Chairperson – Women Empowerment Cell, Chandigarh(also ex Mayor-Chandigarh),were also present on the occasion and briefed her about the program so that any females who are in need of employment and are willing to undergo the training may be enrolled for this program. Mr. Bikram Rana, State Liaison Officer –NSS, Education Department, Chandigarh was requested to help us mobilize needy candidates from across the colleges of Chandigarh.
The Centre has also approached the employment exchange office of Punjab and Chandigarh and collected data for approximately 400 candidates who have cleared examinations of 12th standard and are looking for employment opportunities. All these candidates were contacted telephonically and were invited to our office for an awareness program simultaneously; we contacted the My FM radio station channel and briefed them about the Tech Mahindra SMART Centre at Chandigarh.