Dr. Reddy’s Foundation offering vocational training programmes for differently abled

Dr. Reddy’s Foundation (DRF) has been creating a difference in the lives of unemployed youth through various empowerment programmes. The CSR wing of Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Hyderabad, has been engaged in placement based skill training programme and has been expanding its service across India.

The Chennai centres of DRF have been offering vocational training programmes in IT, marketing, electrical and electronics, automobile, hotel management, customer relation services, tailoring and cutting, BPO and lot more. Youngsters, who are from BPL families or unemployed are identified and offered training in five centres — Koyambedu, Perambur, Ayanavaram, Maduravoyal and Velachery.

V. Hemanathan, zonal manager, South India, says that DRF believes in the inherent capacity of individuals. “One can progress, given the appropriate environment. The objective is to enhance the livelihood scope,” he adds.

He asserts that DRF offers only market driven courses and there have been many success stories.

Tie-up programmes

DRF Chennai runs various programmes, including tie-up training projects along with Ministry of Rural Development — Grameen Livelihood Advancement Business School (LABS), Vocational Rehabilitation Centre (VRC) under the Ministry of Labour for physically challenged, the Chennai Corporation, Town Panchayats and IT companies.

Through Grameen LABS, DRF equips rural youth with marketable skills to secure employment in the organised sector. The three-month courses are provided to youngsters identified by Block Development Officers from the Ministry. The candidates who are in the age group of 18 to 35 and have a qualification of 8th or 10th pass are eligible to enrol in the free training programmes of Grameen LABS.

Mr. Hemanathan says that DRF also helps in the placement of the trainees at the end of the course. It has signed MoU with various organisations including Café Coffee Day, KFC, Pizza Hut, Shoppers Stop and also IT companies and other industries for placement. “The candidates are getting a minimum of Rs. 3,500 as salary at the entry level jobs,” he adds. DRF works closely with Employment Exchange and colleges.

Dell Computers also offers free courses in IT related jobs for students in the age group 18 to 25, while Accenture offers training programme in BPO jobs at a nominal fee through DRF.

DRF has also initiated pilot projects to reach out to persons with disabilities (PwD) and offers training in collaboration with various corporate and Government agencies in the VRC campus in Guindy. According to Mr. Hemanathan, as many as 325 people, including locomotors challenged, visually challenged and hearing impaired were trained in the recent programme. Of them, 200 have been provided with jobs.

The candidates for all the programmes are selected through an individual youth development test and assessed to fit in a particular course. To join the programme, one should register at any of the five centres and take a test.

DRF, which also offers life skill training, has entrepreneurship guidance programme on the anvil, Mr. Hemanathan says. For details, contact the head office (Saligramam) at 23651797 / 42136783.

Dr. Reddy’s Foundation has been offering vocational training programmes for BPL and unemployed youth.

Ref : Hindu