Two boys from Bengal cleared their Higher Secondary examinations and started looking for work to support their families. While one scouted for electrical jobs, the other was ready to take up anything that would fetch him a good pay but both failed to make ends meet owing to a common setback — lack of professional training and skill. Their lives took a positive turn when they got to know about Ambuja Foundation’s Skill & Entrepreneurship Development Institutes (SEDI). Vocational training and upskilling showed them the path to a sustainable career.
My Kolkata delves into Ambuja Foundation’s mission to upskill underprivileged youth from rural areas.
Achievers from Bengal
Amit Das, son of a daily wage labourer in Palgachi, Malda district, completed his schooling and in spite of his keen interest to pursue a bachelor’s degree, his father, the sole breadwinner, struggled to get him admitted to a college. Amit soon realised the need to support his father to provide for the family of four, including his younger brother and homemaker mother.
Having completed a four-month electrical training course from SEDI Farakka, Amit Das is now earning around Rs 23,000 per month at Suzlon Energy
Amit was interested in electrical jobs but lacked proper training. While he was hunting for work, Amit heard about SEDI’s training centre in Farakka from a friend and enrolled in the four-month electrical training course. With placement support from SEDI, he received an opportunity to work as a technician at Eicher Ltd, Indore, earning Rs 16,500 per month. Later, he received another opportunity from Ambuja to join as a company trainee at Suzlon Energy. He joined in January 2024 and is now earning around Rs 23,000 per month.
Talking about his journey, Amit said: “Ambuja Foundation’s four-month intensive programme transformed my prospects. The curriculum covered essential skills for an assistant electrician, including hands-on practical knowledge and expert mentorship. This experience boosted my confidence and competence significantly. Joining Ambuja Foundation was a pivotal decision in my career, turning uncertainty into achievement.”
On the other hand, Partha Mondal from Dhulagori village in Howrah was frustrated, having failed to get a job. His father, a small business owner, managed to run the family with difficulty. In 2017, Partha heard about the SEDI centre in Sankrail and took admission in the smartphone repairing technician course. After its completion, he started working in a mobile service centre with a pay of Rs 5,000 to 6,000 per month. But it was not enough for him, he knew he could do more. So he opened a shop providing telecom service in 2019. When it was all working out well, COVID hit and he was left without work.
Partha at his own shop
Partha decided to upgrade his knowledge and skill on smartphone software and improve his business knowledge to expand his business during the lockdown. He returned to where his dreams got wings and reached out to SEDI. This time, he took up the advanced smartphone software-based entrepreneurship course. The advance training was an eye-opener for him, as he got more knowledge about smartphone repairing and servicing along with financial literacy, e-commerce, and various important aspects of entrepreneurship.
After completion of the training in December 2020, he diversified his business services and started earning more. He started giving home banking services to the people of his village during the pandemic. Looking back, Partha said: “The pandemic was a crisis period for everyone, especially for small businessmen like me. With SEDI, I could upgrade my knowledge and skill. Now, I am leading a respectable life, supporting my family and helping my village folks. I encourage the youth of my village to join SEDI to redirect their life into the correct path.”
Partha is at present working as an entrepreneur, earning around Rs 40,000 per month. He has purchased his motorcycle and now, he plans to buy a car.
What is SEDI?
Skill & Entrepreneurship Development Institutes are a part of Ambuja Foundation’s initiative to offer short and intensive courses in different fields of services that prepares youth to enter the occupational world. Ambuja Foundation is an independent, pan-India implementation organisation that works with the rural communities. They work in the agriculture sector, women’s empowerment, health and education industries to provide livelihood for people in rural India.
Sewing course training at SEDI
“Since the establishment of the first institute in 2006, SEDI has trained over 1,18,000 rural youth in various trades from 43 different organised sectors and maintains a commendable placement rate of 75 per cent. SEDI trains about 20,000 youth a year with an average starting salary of Rs 12,000. What started in 2006 with one centre in Jaitaran, Rajasthan, has expanded to 36 SEDIs in 10 states, including Bihar, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal,” Ravi Nayse, chief operating officer, SEDI, said.
SEDI in West Bengal
In West Bengal, the first SEDI was started in Farakka in 2009, followed by Sankrail and Dhulagarh in 2011. Recently, SEDI has started a youth empowerment centre at Jangalpur, Jalan complex, Howrah, in partnership with SKF Limited.
These centres offer training in vocations like two and four-wheeler mechanics, sales executive, beautician, sewing machine operator, customer care executive, mobile repairing (electronics), electrician and welding courses. The courses usually are for 2-4 months. After which the youths are placed in various companies like Eichers Motors, JBM Auto Ltd, Bluestars Ltd. Havells India Ltd, Haier Appliances Ltd, Suzlon Pvt. Ltd, Mahindra Ltd etc. across the country that have partnered with Ambuja Foundation. The trainers in all centres are certified professionals with industry experience.
Training underway at a SEDI centre in West Bengal
“Basic computer skills, basic reading, writing and spoken English and other soft skills are compulsory components of all training programmes conducted at SEDIs. The youths are encouraged through word of mouth or through our regular campaigns by our student mobilisation groups in several areas. When they see their peers doing well, they are attracted to join us. There have been several incidents where school dropouts and unemployed youths joined us because they saw live examples from their neighbourhood,” Nayse said.
Through the Skill and Entrepreneurship Development Institutes, Ambuja Foundation has also been challenging social stereotypes and beliefs too through training for specially abled youths, male nursing attendants and female welders. Sharing more, the chief operating officer said, “Sometimes we face challenges convincing the parents of the boys and girls when job opportunities outside their hometown. We also provide counselling for them. Our support does not end after they get the job. We regularly follow up with them and their employer to check their status and progress. We have small online communities where SEDI alumni connect and support each other.”
Since 2009, more than 8,881 youths have been trained in rural West Bengal in SEDI and about 6,061 were placed. The male to female ratio is 69:31. Throwing light on the highest demand for beautician course in West Bengal, Nayse said, “Most girls enrol for the beautician course in West Bengal. They earn a lot from it, especially during Durga Puja. Most of them operate independently and enjoy their freedom to earn.”
Who can join SEDI? Any student dropped out of school or completed school can join SEDI by visiting the nearby centre or through their official website.