Ambuja Cement Foundations Skills & Entrepreneurship Development Institute

INDORE, India - July 17, 2013 - PRLog -- Ambuja Cement Foundation’s Skills & Entrepreneurship Development Institute
Bridging the gaps of unemployment among rural youth in Bhatapara
In spite of being surrounded by numerous industrial establishments, the Bhatapara district in Chhattisgarh has persistently faced issues of unemployment among its youth population, owing to their lack of skills.
In the year 2010 Ambuja Cement Foundation (ACF) introduced Skill and Entrepreneurship Development Institute (SEDI) Bhatapara, which has changed this scenario to a notable extent.
SEDI Bhatapara has over the recent years, been instrumental in providing specialized courses to local youth in Beauty Care, Computer Hardware & Networking, Electrician Training, Carpentry, Masonry, and Gardening.
It is the only institute in the district to receive a license to operate a driving school for Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMV’s) and Light Motor Vehicles (LMV’s). A special driving academy called the “Ambuja Driving Excellence Academy”, has been set up in partnership with Tata Motors and is approved by the local RTO.
SEDI also collaborates with the Government for specialized courses in Masonry, Carpentry, Electrical Training and Welding etc. 80-100 students have been trained in various skills under the Civic Action Programme, with assistance from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). All the students at SEDI-Bhatapara receive a Mukhyamantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana certificate, which is recognized by the Government of Chhattisgarh.
SEDI’s Bhatapara work has gained recognition not only by the local community, but also by the Government. It was invited for the CRPF Civic Action Programme, initiated under the Ministry of Home Affairs and completed three batches by April 2013.
SEDI Bhatapara has successfully trained 459 students and placed 319 rural youth across the district till date. The number of participants and trained youth is increasing year on year.

Case Study
Prakash Kumar Druv Lekhu could have wasted much of his time trying to find out some means of earning money. But that was not to be, thanks to his training at SEDI, Bhatapara that infused a fresh lease of life in him.
Until he joined the training course, he had no clue which way he is headed, a problem also faced by many of his peers. He also had the responsibility to assist his father, a daily wage farm labourer, in supplementing the family income.
When Prakash heard of Skill and Entrepreneurship Development Institute (SEDI), he enrolled for the electricians’ course. Today, he works with Chhattisgarh Jute Industries,Raipur, earning a monthly income of Rs. 5,000. Prakash also encouraged his friends and relatives to join the course for a stable livelihood option.
SEDI at Bhatapara is also helping Prakash complete modules in ‘repair of home appliances’ for the Government of Chhattisgarh. This will help him enhance his skills and open up better opportunities.SEDI is ACF’s livelihood intervention programme for youth in rural areas.
Ambuja Cement Foundation
Established in 1993, ACF is the social development arm of Ambuja Cements Ltd working exclusively with rural communities on issues related to water conservation and management, sustainable agriculture, health and sanitation, support for school education, awareness on prevention on HIV and AIDS, promotion of SHGs for socio-economic development of women and capacity building of local youth and farmers. ACF undertakes projects and schemes for promoting social and economic development for communities around the manufacturing locations of Ambuja Cement Ltd.



For further information, please contact:
Atul Malikram
atul@atulmalikram.in