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With the objective of playing a role in upskilling and building a future ready talent force, Vodafone Idea Foundation, the CSR arm of Vi, set-up a skill training centre in Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh that offers employment linked skill training to socially and economically challenged youth within their vicinity. The centre was formally inaugurated by Anurag Singh Thakur, Minister of Information & Broadcasting and Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India, in the presence of P Balaji, Chief Regulatory & Corporate Affairs Officer, VIL, Director, Vodafone Idea Foundation, who also awarded some of the initial ‘graduates’ of the programme with certificates.
Commenting on this initiative, Anurag Singh Thakur, Minister for Information & Broadcasting and Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India said: “At a time when we are advancing towards building a new India, preparing the youth to be part of a skilled workforce and aiding their economic and personal empowerment is of utmost importance. It is for us to ensure that ample growth opportunities are provided to the youth. In the last eight years we’ve undertaken various initiatives aimed at upskilling, providing financial credit, and laying the foundation for India to emerge as the worlds largest skilled workforce. Today’s initiative is another step in that direction and I am happy to see participation from leading corporates like Vodafone Idea that have come forward to provide skill training to the youth and empower local talent.” He added, “I am also happy to note that Vodafone Idea Foundation’s mobile van under the aegis of PMGDISHA will impart training on financial and digital literacy to communities in the region, which is an important life skill for all. I hope to see even more corporates coming forward to partner on skilling initiatives pertaining to their sector.”
In partnership with Sambhav Foundation, Vodafone Idea Foundation’s skill training centre, established in Samirpur, is equipped with computers and a retail lab for practical implementation of theoretical knowledge. The centre will provide the youth with local and relevant employment-linked skill training in disciplines such as IT, ITES, and Retail. As part of the curriculum, students will also be provided with face-to-face counselling, and formative and summative assessments.
On this occasion, Anurag Thakur also flagged-off Vodafone Idea Foundation’s ‘Jaadu Ginni Ka’ mobile van, to take the Government of India’ digital literacy movement another step forward.
Speaking about Vodafone Idea Foundation’s commitment to the Indian youth, P Balaji, Chief Regulatory & Corporate Affairs Officer, VIL, Director, Vodafone Idea Foundation, said: “India has one of the youngest populations in the world. The vision of a new India requires skills, new learnings and opportunities for sustained employment for the youth, especially at the grassroots. Our skill training project demonstrates a ready model that addresses the entire skills to employment cycle end-to-end, is local, low cost, and easily scalable. Similarly, to bring financial literacy awareness and drive financial inclusion in the country, our ‘Jaadu Ginni Ka’ initiative aims to provide a comprehensive financial literacy development programme. We thank Anurag Thakur for his guidance, and the district officials for their cooperation and support on both these initiatives.”
The Jaadu Ginni Ka mobile van will travel across Hamirpur district to impart knowledge and training on basic digital and financial literacy skills. As part of the Government of India’s flagship programme for digital inclusion, PMGDISHA (Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan), Vodafone Idea Foundation has been driving the ‘Jaadu Ginni Ka’ programme with the support of CSC Academy and Learning Links Foundation to spread awareness on financial literacy.
Jaadu Ginni Ka is Vodafone Idea Foundations’ flagship programme in the domain of financial literacy and has impacted more than 1 crore people - almost half of them women – across the country. It has previously supported deployment of 29 mobile vans with the aim to take financial and digital literacy to grassroots level.