To help trigger development and upliftment of Mewat, The Times Group along with SRF Foundation successfully launched a “Spoken English Program” for youth in 2010. From teachers only classes, the program gradually morphed into digital based learning with projectors and smartphones. Further, Building as Learning Aid (BaLA) paintings added a new perspective to learning. Additionally, personality development classes were also provided to the students to help develop their sense of identity, presentation skills and confidence to carry themselves.
One cannot overstate the importance of English language especially in India where the language also reciprocates as a status symbol. Today, English is the only language favoured by different industries including legal and banking systems, defence, industrial houses and trade and commerce. Through the Spoken English Program in Mewat, both the Times Group and SRF Foundation are trying to make young boys and girls employable in various sectors such as Retail, Service, Finance and so on. The program implemented is of three months duration with an intake of 60 students divided into three groups of 20 students each. It follows a curriculum based on conversations in the retail and hospitality sector along with activities that are in line with the basics on English language and grammar. In order to facilitate better learning outcomes, the program uses an activity-based learning approach as well as digital resources. The program is currently serving unemployed youth of five block across all districts of Nuh namely Nuh, Nagina, Punhana, Ferozepur Jhilka and Tauru.
Organizations often look for candidates with exceptional communication skills and good command over English. This is because the majority of organizations have a clientele which would prefer an English-speaking person. Hence, the need of individuals who are not only technically sound but are proficient in English is significantly higher. Therefore, it will not be wrong to say that aspirants with good command over English are at a higher chance of getting hired in a company than those with just technical proficiency.
At the time when the pandemic hit the country, many lost their jobs and others were looking for jobs to sustain themselves and their families. Even at such a crucial time, the Foundation kept its doors open for potential trainees who aspired to upskill their spoken English. Both online and offline classes were conducted at the door steps for the students while adhering to all safety guidelines and protocols to avoid any hindrance in their learning process. Videos were also prepared and shared with the students for a smooth execution of online classes. During the time of the pandemic alone, 240 individuals were trained through the Spoken English Program.
Learners of the program are also pursuing higher education after completion of this program as they are now comfortable with the medium of teaching in higher institutions and are inspired to take steps further to develop an all-round understanding of the world. The initiative through its zone-wise Job Fairs, also facilitates suitable employment opportunities in reputed companies such as KFC, Pizza Hut, Big Bazaar, Pantaloons, Bajaj Capital, Aegis, DIAL etc. for the learners who wish to get employment soon after the completion of the program. The fact is that Mewat is surrounded by areas where demand of skilled individuals in high. Hence, the support that the program provides to the youth enhances their chance to utilise these opportunities.
The point of distinction of people who want to increase their chances of employment through learning to speak English is that they come from a low-income earning background. Mewat is one such socio-economically backward districts of Haryana where the average literacy rate is 44.07 % according to Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), 2008. Struggling to access basic requirements like clean drinking water, ration and infrastructure for education, the youth of Mewat still aspire to work in organizations and have respectful jobs. Since they do not have a grasp on the language that forms the basis of communication – they fail to even apply for the jobs they want. As per the Census of 2011 report, there are 26.62% workers in the district, with around 73.38% as non-workers. The highest rate of unemployment in the state is more than 10% higher than the benchmark in the state i.e., 26.4%. Further, research have stated that there is a definite increase in the chances of recruitment of a candidate if he/she can speak English.
The Foundation along with Times Group identified the need of a program that enhances employment opportunities in Mewat much before it was certified as an aspirational district by NITI Aayog in January 2018. Needless to say, the course helped 277 graduates to gain employment while motivating other graduates who completed the course to pursue higher studies, diploma courses and fulfil their aspirations. Till now the program has equipped over 1800 trainees. Times Group and SRF Foundation believe that this venture will have a positive impact on the people who are taking this course with the aim to increase their employability. It would also contribute in reducing gender disparity in the country, making India a more powerful nation.
