DEHRADUN: ICICI Academy for Skills (ICICI Academy), an arm of ICICI Foundation for Inclusive Growth has launched its first skill development centre in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, to provide free vocational training to the youth from economically weaker sections and help them earn a sustainable livelihood. Initially, the centre aims to train 550 youths a year.

The centre will provide free training in two disciplines – Selling Skills and Office Administration.

ICICI Academy has so far trained over 1.14 lakh youth, including 46,000 women. Eligible students have achieved 100% placement. The academy further aims to train 1.5 lakh individuals by 2020.

ICICI Foundation, having trained 3.87 lakh people since its inception through the ICICI Academy and other livelihood programmes, plans to train up to 5 lakh individuals by 2020.

State’s first ICICI Academy in Deharadun was inaugurated by Shri Trivendra Singh Rawat, Chief Minister of Uttarakhand on February 23.

The centre will run under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) scheme with the Department of Skill Development and Education, Uttarakhand.

The curricula consists of industry relevant vocational training as well as life skills such as etiquette and grooming, communication, Basic English and financial literacy.

The initiative offers 12 weeks training. Youth who have completed at least standard X and are between 18 to 30 years of age are eligible for these courses.

Saurabh Singh, President, ICICI Foundation says, “Our effort has been to take a holistic approach to ensure free-of-cost, job-oriented training, to the youth from the weaker sections of society and also help them to find employment through our linkages with the industry.”

“We believe that the skills acquired through this Academy will equip the trained youth to engage in productive and remunerative economic activity and take part in the state’s growth.”, he added.

In addition to ICICI Academy, ICICI Foundation enables sustainable livelihood through skill development at over 1,200 villages and through the Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs). Collectively, ICICI Foundation has trained 3.87 lakh people since inception.

(Reported by Anil Jaggi for India CSR Network)