IndiaCSR News Network
NEW DELHI: OPJCC, a vocational education and rural development CSR initiative of Jindal Steel and Power Limited, was selected for the prestigious, competitive, national award IndiaCSR Awards for its case study on Aparajita, an innovative, mobile training programme that aims to change the face of certified, competent construction workers. Construction is among the largest and fastest growing labour sectors in India, currently estimated at 30 million people about half of whom are unskilled women.
IndiaCSR Community Initiative second annual award function was organized at PHD House, New Delhi on Friday, 26 February, 2016. This year’s award edition also released a book, IndiaCSR Case Studies, with successful awardee winner corporate social responsibility projects. IndiaCSR, the dedicated CSR media house, has been consistently working for last 8 years in domain of CSR promotion in India. IndiaCSR awards annual ceremony was supported and sponsored by Wockhardt Foundation and BIMTECH.
Leading business houses including Vedanta Limited, Finolex Industries Limited, Jindal Steel & Power Limited, ACC Cement-Kymore Cement Works, OP Jindal Community College-Raigarh and Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Limited have been awarded the IndiaCSR Community Initiative Awards 2015 in domain excellence for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The Case Studies were meticulously reviewed by a panel of eminent jury members.
OPJCC started Aparajita in April 2013 to promote gender equality and dignity of labor, as well as to address the widespread shortages of skilled manpower in construction and other high-growth, high-wage vocational trades. To date, over 400 rural women have earned government-recognised skills certificates and over 70% are earning a living from construction.
“It is our dream to see an India where there is no gender discrimination, where women are given equal opportunities and there is employment for all,” remarked Smt. Shallu Jindal, Co-Chairperson, JSPL Foundation.
Through Aparajita, OPJCC takes the college to remote communities via mobile skills training programmes to create awareness of vocational skills and promote employability. Socio-cultural constraints and low educational attainment rates often prevent women from leaving their villages to attend classes. OPJCC instructors therefore live for 2-3 months in villages to teach the basics before shifting to the college or construction sites to complete training.
Located in Chhattisgarh, Jharkand, and Odisha, OPJCC is committed to providing access to quality instruction to upgrade skills and prepare women and men to enter the labour market as competent, experienced workers. Aparajita is demonstrating that (a) inclusive development makes a difference in myriad ways in the lives of women and their families, and (b) that there is a willingness in the construction fraternity to accept women at par with their male counterparts as skilled and competent workers.
OPJCC Director, Miriam Carter and HR Manager Shalu Agrawal received the award for the college from Rusen Kumar, Managing Editor of IndiaCSR and other esteemed dignitaries.
The College offers several government-recognised skills development verticals for school drop-outs/leavers, workers, and degree holders, including vocational teachers and assessors in construction, electrical, mechanical, welding and fabrication, and hospitality trades to name a few.
About IndiaCSR Awards
The IndiaCSR has a vision to identify and recognize the corporate practices of ongoing Social Responsibility initiatives in various domains and inspire, encourage, and facilitate corporate social responsibility awareness and practices among corporate India.
“We aim to identify and recognize exemplary CSR performances give visibility to CSR excellence and raise awareness on the positive impact that business can have on society, bring the best CSR multi-stakeholder projects into focus, enhance the exchange of CSR best practice across India and encourage CSR collaboration between business and stakeholders.”, said Rusen Kumar, Founder and Managing Editor, IndiaCSR.
“IndiaCSR has been committed to set new benchmarks in the domain of CSR by managing various initiatives including management of web based news portal, awards, events, and provide consultancy to the corporate world to bring about a radical change in the life of various stakeholders of the society with an aim to give a northward push to the stature of Indian economy in various global index” said Dr. Rana Singh, Co-Founder and CEO, IndiaCSR.
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