NEW DELHI: Schneider Electric India Foundation (SEIF)-the social commitment of Schneider Electric India-leader in digital transformation of energy management and automation, reached a milestone of positively impacting 700,000 households benefitting 3.5 million people, in the last 10 years, through programmes aimed at making New India Energy Positive.
The 360-degree initiatives by Schneider Electric include reaching out to young minds through programmes designed to conserve the planet, facilitating entrepreneurship through electrician training programmes and bringing light to lives in off-grid villages through solar energy. Around 85,000 unemployed youth were provided with vocational skills, as electricians, enabling them to earn a livelihood and creating sustenance for their families.
The completion of ten years of its CSR efforts in the country was marked by an event which was graced by Rajesh Agrawal – Joint Secretary & CVO Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship who shared his views on the criticality of skill development in the growth of the country.
At the event, Schneider Electric also announced supporting and re-equipping some select ITIs with latest equipment, state-of-the-art lab, industry relevant curriculum and training of the staff members.
Beginning in 2008, the Schneider Electric India Foundation (SEIF) has been focused on five core areas to ensure sustainable energy for all. These include education, entrepreneurship, employment, electrification and training. It has set up 271 vocational training centres spread across the country and comprising of 260 basic electrician training centres, ten solar energy training centres and one Centre of Excellence. The foundation has reached out to 500 schools, 1,100 teachers and 52,000 students under its ‘Conserve My Planet’ initiative, and helped generate active awareness among tomorrow’s leaders. A total of 701 teachers’ missions have been completed by the foundation and 292 scholarships disbursed to support their skilling.
Venkat Garimella, Vice-President, Strategy & Energy Efficiency, Schneider Electric India said, “At Schneider Electric, we believe access to energy is a basic human right and our mission is to empower local groups and to reach out to every segment of the society with training and education programmes for sustainable living. We have worked relentlessly towards our goal of transforming lives through access to energy for a decade and will continue to do so in the future.”
Sustainable development and providing access to energy is at the core of Schneider Electric’s philosophy. Since its inception, the organisation has made substantial contribution to provide access to energy to 5 million people. The goal is now to reach 50 million people within the next 10 years.
In order to impart training to the youth and increase their employability, SEIF has supported centres with the latest tools, equipment and technical know-how in electrical maintenance, electrical technology and automated electrical systems.
Apart from this SEIF has set up nine advanced renewable energy training centres in Lucknow, Bhubaneswar, Bengaluru, New Delhi, Cuttack, Vizag and Jaipur with an emphasis on hands-on practical training with customised and specially-developed course content.
