And for a Friday after an online Convocation from 100 Skill Development centres across India, 100% job placement…..
India’s biggest advantage undoubtedly is its demographic dividend; average age of the country less than 29. But it could easily turn to disaster if the one million young people coming into the job markets every month do not get employed. Honestly, the problem is not the lack of jobs but employability. Here’s where the German dual Education based Skill Development programme developed by German MNC – BOSCH, under the guidance of Dr. O.P. Goel is making a huge difference. The BRIDGE programme under the BOSCH CSR, wherein 10th & 12th grade failed impoverished and destitute young boys and girls were identified, trained and polished into “Job-ready” resources for entry level jobs in Automotive, Retail, Hospitality, BPO etc. etc. across India. More than 30,000 youth have gone thru the programme with 100% job placements.
Buoyed by the results of BRIDGE, one of the most successful PPP (Public Private Partnership) models between NSDC of GOI and BOSCH termed as PRIDE (Participatory and Research based Initiative to foster Decent Employment and Entrepreneurship) was launched in November 2022. I was at the inauguration of this event. BOSCH trained intensively 100 Entrepreneurs on Skill Development Modules devised and developed by the Company. Very comprehensive, these 100 Skill Entrepreneurs were hand held, including financing by micro and other financing partners, to start 100 Skill-Centres across districts in the country from Hanumangarh to Karwar, Madurai etc. These 100 centres selected 20 unemployed students from their own harvest area around villages and towns in the vicinity and in 3 months of exclusive job oriented Skill training, all 2000 graduated. Today at the Convocation, I was witness to, 100% had confirmed jobs or became Entrepreneurs themselves. Hats off to the Entire team at PRIDE. Next step, increasing coverage to 10,000 candidates and then the BIG LEAP to one lakh. It’s challenging but immensely plausible provided the Govts recognise the success and provide guaranteed institutional funding for the huge scale up. The Model has been tested, ready and successful for the huge scale up. Once done, this will launch India into the 5 Trn $ Economy fastest.
India has huge challenges. But the Opportunities are even bigger. Each one of us must support the process of enhancing employability, the PRIDE way, the Ethical way, the SEEGOS way.