Employing the Unemployed Programme (EUP) aims at creating livelihood opportunities for youth, particularly women from rural and semi-urban areas. EUP contributes to vision of the nation towards developing a skilled workforce for India’s economic growth and provides equal access towards the skill development opportunities to the underprivileged youths in India. Technical and vocational training in different domains such as sales, hospitality, ITeS-BPO, and others are provided to candidates, post which they are successfully employed by local, national and international industries. EUP also sees many dynamic youth explore their potential in business and emerge as successful entrepreneurs.
This programme is aimed at addressing the issue of unemployment in India. India is widely known for enjoying its demographic dividend, with almost half of India’s current population under the age of 28[1]. However, to optimally leverage this advantage, the country needs to continuously find ways to keep its manpower skilled so as to meet the demand from its industries while also seizing global opportunities by supplying talent to the international job markets (India Skills Report 2020).
Vocational centres known as Bandhan Skill Development Centres (BSDC) are set up which provide training to unemployed youth. The youth can choose from an array of domains such as sales, hospitality, ITeS-BPO, computer hardware & networking, warehouse management , tailoring, computerized/computer accounting, refrigerator and air conditioner repair, among others. After successful completion of these skill development courses, candidates either explore entrepreneurial opportunities or find employment with reputed companies.
This is a skill development initiative that equips unemployed youth with numerous industry relevant skills for seeking employment in emerging sectors and industries. The primary objective of these centres is to build a skilled workforce and provide equal access to skill development opportunities to underprivileged youth. Skill training covers classroom and on-the-job training, and increases employability of the participants.
The organisation has its own pool of experienced skill development trainers who are specialised in imparting training on standard courses or subjects. The trainers conduct the courses in a comprehensive manner and also interact with industries, communities, parents of the youth, organise on-the-job training, assist in placement and monitor the progress of the trainees.
Each course has distinct objectives and contents are broadly categorised as core skill, professional knowledge, professional skill and technical skill development. Sector specialists are consulted to refresh skills of the trainers and prepare course content to make them up-to-date and relevant to industry environment. On-the-job training is organised at industry outlets/branches where participants learn practical work skills relevant to specific jobs.
Generally, the team encourages skill development in popular sectors like Hospitality, Retail, Electronics, Banking & Finance, ITeS & BPO, and Beauty & Wellness. Six months post- employment, the team tracks and monitors the employment status and helps the participants for their adaptability in the job. This procedure provides useful feedback and motivates other young trainees at the centres. At least 80% of the trained youth are successfully placed and they are performing well at their jobs.
National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and Sector Skill Council (SSC) approved curriculum is followed in each course. Experts from the sectors are invited to share their knowledge, experience and ideas with the trainees, to enrich them with global and national experience. Upon successful completion of the course, they find reasonable employment with brands like Pantaloons, Tech Mahindra, ITC Fortune, Samsung, Airtel, Vodafone, Mainland China, Big Bazaar, Reliance Cash & Carry, Spencer’s, Godrej, HDFC Finance, Bajaj Finance, KFC, Café Coffee Day, Landmark Group, Barbeque Nation, Value Retail Plus, PC Chandra Jewellers and others.
Programme: EUP
Date: January 16, 2020
Visitor Details: Mr. Rafey Eajaz Hussain, State Programme Manager, Save the Children, India
Branch: Patna
