Title of the Project
SAKSHAM: Vocational Training for 4700 Youth Employability(Mumbai 2500 & Pune 2200)
Project Concept
The proposed project aims to provide market-led vocational training to 47000 marginalized urban youth (Mumbai 2500 & Pune 2200) from disadvantaged families residing in Pune and Mumbai urban slums. The intervention aims to offer the youth an opportunity to explore the rapidly growing service industry trades, such as retail, hospitality, health care, and BPOs, that have a significant skill gap. By imparting vocational skills to the youth, the project aims to tackle unemployment while channelizing their energy towards productive activities.
To ensure the success of the project, we will work closely with Plan International, leveraging their market intelligence and expertise. Together, we will finalize the training trades by analyzing the trends in the new market economy. This approach will help ensure that the training provided is relevant and market-driven, increasing the chances of the youth’s employability and success in the chosen trades.
Background
India is currently in the midst of a demographic dividend with a large working-age population of 15 to 59 years of age. However, this dividend can only be realized if this population is equipped with the right skills and knowledge to be productive in the workforce. With this working-age population set to rise exponentially over the coming decades, there is a pressing need to encourage them to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge for employability. This will not only ensure India’s competitiveness in the global market but also reduce the number of people working in the unorganized sector. However, the reality is that employers are unlikely to invest in skilling their employees and individuals themselves are constrained to mobilize their own resources for up-skilling. As a result, there are currently very few job-ready workers available in the market. It is therefore essential to provide market-savvy skills training to both the growing young workforce and the middle-aged who may lack the required competency to move up the ladder of growth. Up-skilling individuals in the current economic space will increase their chances of acquiring better employment opportunities.
In recent years, India has experienced rapid economic growth driven by advances in new-age industries. This growth has resulted in an increase in purchasing power, leading to a greater demand for higher-quality services. However, there is a significant shortage of skilled manpower in the country, and it is becoming increasingly important to focus on developing and enhancing the skill sets of the young population.The COVID-19 pandemic has also amplified the challenges faced by young people, especially those who lack skills.
The proposed project aims to provide training to interested and needy youth to acquire skills and secure jobs in the market. Employers are constantly searching for skilled manpower in the technology and manufacturing sectors that can contribute to the growth of a green India. However, there is a mismatch between demand and supply. The reasons for unemployment include limited access to job-oriented vocational training programs, traditional sources of education and vocational training, an increase in technology adoption at the industry level, and high population growth, especially among migrant populations.
Need of the project
The project’s need is evident, as employers are continuously searching for skilled manpower in service sector, retail, logistic, technology and manufacturing sectors that can contribute to India’s growth. However, there is a significant mismatch in demand and supply. Limited access to job-oriented vocational training programs, traditional sources of education and vocational training, an increase in technology adoption at the industry level, and high population growth, particularly among migrant populations, are the primary reasons for unemployment, as identified through previous experience and discussions with various stakeholders.
As per our previous experienceand discussion with various stakeholders the basic reasons of unemployment are:
- Limited access to job oriented vocational training programmes.
- Traditional way/ sources of education and vocational trainings.
- Increase in technology adoption at industry level.
- High population growth (especially migrant population).
The project’s development objective is to improve opportunities for 4700unemployed youthsfrom Pune, and Mumbaito meet their Social and Economic development objectives by getting a sustainable livelihood.
Specific Objectives of the proposal are
- To provide vocational and technical skill development training to 4700 youth (Mumbai 2500 & Pune 2200) through classroomteaching and experiential learning processes.
- To ensure atleast 90% placements and retention of trained youth in decent jobs.
- To provide life skills, communication, digital and financial literacy training to youth.
To achieve the above specific objectives the proposed project approach would be
To provide vocational and technical skill development training to 4700 youth through classroom teaching and experiential learning processes.
- Identify key vocational and technical skills that are in demand in the job market.
- Develop a comprehensive training program that includes classroom teaching, practical training, and experiential learning.
- Recruit qualified trainers with industry experience and expertise.
- Set up training centers with adequate facilities and equipment.
- Advertise the training program through various channels to attract aspirants.
- Enroll aspirants in the training program and conduct an orientation session.
- Deliver classroom teaching and practical training as per the program curriculum.
- Facilitate experiential learning through on-the-job training and internships.
- Conduct regular assessments to measure aspirant progress and provide feedback.
- Continuously evaluate and improve the training program based on feedback and changing market demand.
To ensure at least 90% placements and retention of trained youth in decent jobs
- Develop partnerships with employers in industries related to the training program.
- Conduct market research to understand the job market and identify employment opportunities.
- Collect letters of intent from employers indicating their interest in hiring trained aspirants.
- Conduct regular career counseling sessions to help aspirants understand job opportunities and expectations.
- Facilitate job placement for trained aspirants in relevant industries.
- Conduct follow-up assessments to ensure that aspirants are retained in their jobs.
- Provide post-placement support to help aspirants adjust to their new jobs and address any issues.
To provide life skills, communication, digital, and financial literacy training to youth.
- Develop a comprehensive training program that includes life skills, communication, digital, and financial literacy.
- Recruit qualified trainers with expertise in the relevant areas.
- Deliver training as per the program curriculum.
- Conduct regular assessments to measure aspirant progress and provide feedback.
- Continuously evaluate and improve the training program based on feedback and changing market demand.
- Provide access to relevant tools and resources to help aspirants develop and practice their skills.
- Encourage aspirants to apply their skills in real-life situations through volunteering or community service.
Proposed Project
The purpose of this project is to provide job-oriented vocational training to marginalized youth residing in urbanslums. The training program will focus on retail, service sectors, and logistics, with a special emphasis onmultipurpose executives. The retail and hospitality/service industries are facing a severe shortage of skilled staff, making this training vital to meet the growing demand for skilled personnel. The project aims to provide at least 4700youths with sustainable livelihoods by providing them with the necessary skills and strong placement linkages.
This training program is not just about impacting the lives of individuals, but also about positively influencing their families and communities. In addition to technical skills, the training program will include core employability skills such as goal setting, communication, job search strategies, interview preparation, and financial planning. The technical content of the program will be developed in collaboration with industries/institutes working in the sector and will be based on the market demand, following the NSDC QPs.
The aim of the project is to provide youth from disadvantaged backgrounds with the skills and knowledge they need to secure sustainable livelihoods, improve their economic well-being, and contribute to their communities development. By collaborating with industries and institutes, the training program will be tailored to meet market demand, ensuring the employability and success of the trainees.
Target Group
The unemployed youthof the focused area who have the 3As (Attitude, Aptitude and Ambition) to achieve beyond the opportunities they have been given by helping them to get ready for work.The specific qualification will be:
- The age group will be 18-29 years.
- At least 12th
Focused Trades for placements in the service industry
- Hospitality & Service Industry
- Retail/ Malls
- Facilities Management
- Self-Employment
Project Strategy
To ensure that the training program is aligned with the demands of the job market, a proactive approach will be taken to gather data on market demand. Prior to training, letters of intent will be collected from companies and organizations that are interested in hiring aspirants with specific skill sets. These letters of intent will outline the job roles that are in high demand and the specific skills and qualifications that are required for these roles.
Based on the information gathered through the letters of intent, the training program will be designed to prepare aspirants for these high-demand job roles. The training will be tailored to the specific skills and qualifications that are required for each job role, with a focus on hands-on training and practical experience.
By aligning the training program with the needs of the job market, the chances of successful placement and retention in jobs will increase significantly. Aspirants will be well-prepared for the specific job roles that are in high demand, and employers will be impressed by their level of preparation and ability to contribute to the workplace from day one. Moreover, by providing aspirants with the skills and qualifications that are in high demand, the training program will help to drive economic growth and development, benefiting both aspirants and the wider community.
To achieve a placement rate of 90%, which is much more than the industry standard of 70%, a strategy will be implemented that focuses on mobilizing and enrolling a greater number of aspirants and focusing on on-job training for aspirants from the beginning Specifically, the goal will be to enroll 10% more aspirants than are needed to fill the available positions. This approach is intended to minimize the risk of dropouts and ensure that there are enough qualified candidates to fill all available jobs.
In addition to this, the extra enrolment will also help to increase the overall confidence level of the aspirants. With more candidates available to fill each position, there will be less pressure on individual candidates to secure a job, and a greater sense of competition and opportunity for all. This can help to improve the overall quality of the candidate pool and increase the likelihood of successful placement.
Overall,the strategy of focusing on on-job training and soft skills training in the classroom is a well-rounded approach that can lead to higher placement rates and maximum retention in jobs. By providing aspirants with practical knowledge and soft skills, they will be better prepared to handle real-world job scenarios and succeed in their roles.These strategies aim to increase the number of qualified candidates available with more employable skills for placement and to improve the overall confidence level of these candidates. By taking these steps, it is hoped that the placement rate can be increased to 90%, providing greater opportunities for aspirants and helping to drive overall economic growth and development.
To ensure that the training program maintains a high level of quality, a number of measures will be put in place.
Firstly, regular reviews will be conducted with the training team on a weekly basis. This will allow for any issues or concerns to be addressed in a timely manner, and for any necessary adjustments to be made to the training program. Feedback from aspirants will also be taken into account, and any issues raised by aspirants will be addressed promptly.
In addition, a WhatsApp group will be set up to facilitate daily reporting. The team will be required to provide updates on their progress, any issues encountered, and any feedback received from aspirants. This will allow for real-time monitoring of the training program and will ensure that any issues are identified and addressed quickly.
Finally, to ensure that the quality of the training program is maintained over the long term, Elios will ask for performance-based payment. This means that payment will be linked to the success of the training program in terms of aspirant placement and retention in jobs. If the training program is successful in achieving high levels of placement and retention, then Elios will receive payment accordingly. This incentivizes Elios to ensure that the training program is of the highest quality and that aspirants are well-prepared for the job market.
Overall, this system of regular reviews, reporting, and performance-based payment will help to ensure that the training program is of the highest quality and that aspirants are well-prepared for successful careers in their chosen fields.
Scope of Work and Action Plan
1. Batch Plan
Develop a batch plan for each Saksham centre based on target numbers and the educational qualifications of youth. This will involve identifying the number of batches needed to train the targeted number of youth and allocating trainers accordingly. The batch plan should also take into account the availability of training infrastructure and resources.
2. Market Assessment
Conduct a rapid market assessment to identify employment sector-specific requirements. This will involve gathering data on job opportunities, skill requirements, and employer expectations for each trade sector. This information will help to inform the training program and ensure that it aligns with market needs.
3. Community Mobilization and Career Counselling
Identify communities and slums where youth in need of training can be mobilized. Provide them with career counselling to enable them to take up training as per their interest and aptitude. This will involve engaging with community leaders, conducting awareness campaigns, and organizing career guidance sessions.
4. Experiential Learning
Facilitate at least 160 hours of experiential learning to youth enrolled in Saksham program through classroom training, role play, guest lecture, industry visit, on-the-job training, assignment, etc. The experiential learning approach will ensure that the youth gain practical skills that will prepare them for the job market.
5. Job Placement
Ensure 90% job placement of the youth with established and renowned companies and brands. This will involve identifying potential employers, establishing relationships with them, and matching the trained youth to suitable job openings. The job placement strategy should also focus on tracking employer feedback to improve the quality of the training program.
6. Mentorship
Provide three months of mentorship to all placed youth. This will involve assigning a mentor to each placed youth to help them transition to the workplace and provide them with guidance and support as they settle into their new roles.
7. Attendance Tracking
80%+ attendance of all aspirants will be ensured. Record attendance of all youth enrolled in the training, trainers, and assessors using RFID cards. This will ensure accurate tracking of attendance and facilitate the preparation of monthly progress reports.
8. Record Keeping
Maintain detailed records of attendance, reports related to training and assessment of youth, organize industry visits, job placement, post-placement follow-up as per MIS requirement of Plan India. This will involve setting up a data management system to collect, store, and analyze data on the training program and its outcomes.
9. Monthly Progress Reports
Prepare and submit regular monthly progress reports, photos, case studies, etc. These reports will provide stakeholders with updates on the program's progress and help to identify areas that need improvement.
10. Compliance and Performance Reporting
Submit data on compliance and performance as required for monitoring purposes. This will involve providing regular updates on the program's compliance with relevant regulations and performance against set targets.
Proposed Methodology
Incorporating Technology
With the increasing importance of technology in the job market, it would be beneficial to include technology-related training as part of the capacity-building component. This could include training on digital literacy, social media usage for job searching, and basic programming skills.
Creating a Mentorship Program
Establishing a mentorship program for trainees could enhance the learning experience and provide them with valuable guidance and support. Mentors could be industry experts, successful entrepreneurs, or even senior trainees who have completed the program successfully. Mentors could provide trainees with insights into the industry, share their personal experiences, and offer advice on career advancement.
Gamification
Introducing gamification into the training program can make it more engaging and interactive for trainees. Gamification techniques such as points, badges, and leaderboards could be used to incentivize trainees to complete the training modules, and competitions could be organized to encourage healthy competition and teamwork among trainees.
Offering Micro-Credentials
Providing micro-credentials to trainees upon completion of specific modules can increase their employability and make them more attractive to potential employers. These credentials could be recognized by industry associations, certifying bodies, or even by the employers themselves.
Soft Skills Training
While technical skills are essential for job readiness, soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving are equally important. Including soft skills training as part of the capacity building component could help trainees develop these skills and improve their overall employability.
Involving Employers from the Beginning
While the proposed methodology includes employer visits and linkages, it would be beneficial to involve employers from the beginning of the project to ensure that the training provided aligns with the needs and expectations of the job market. Employers could be invited to provide input into the curriculum design and to identify the specific skills and knowledge that are most valuable for their industry.
Providing Continuous Learning Opportunities
To ensure that trainees remain competitive and adaptable in a rapidly changing job market, it is essential to provide continuous learning opportunities. This could include offering online courses, webinars, and workshops on emerging technologies, industry trends, and new job roles. By providing ongoing learning opportunities, the project can help trainees stay relevant and increase their chances of career advancement.
Post Placement Services
The community youth mobilizers would be in constant touch with the youth and her/his family so that job placement could be tracked. At least follow-up for three months will be done to ensure the retention of aspirants in work. If any such incidence is reported the same would be brought for counselling at VT centre, where they would be guided appropriately as per NSDC guideline retention tracking will be done for three months.
Project Implementation Plan
Plan India: Plan India will be playing
role of fund management, overall monitoring of project delivery and outcome.
Elios Healthcare: As a training partner Elios Healthcare’s prime responsibility will be mobilization, orientation, training, certificationplacement, post-placement of the project.
NSDC/NCVET: Training resources, the online platform of skilling (eSkill India portal) and Course curriculum of selected job roles of NSDC/NCVET will be used for training of aspirants
Training Curriculum
A short-term hybridcourse for a duration of 160 hourswhich includes specialized training in: Platform Skills: Time and stress management, negotiation skills, customer dealing, managing expectations of self and employee, gender sensitized and can do attitude, financial literacy. The following standard QPs will be followed to give National Occupational Standard Training Quality to the trainees.- Trainee Associates/ Multipurpose Executive
Trainers/ Occupational Quality Standard
As proposed all trainers (including Project Manager) have professional degree. We will also follow the NSDC standard training module. Module attached for your reference.Program delivery
The program delivery involves- Interactive sessions
- Expert sessions
- Activity based events (Subject related)
- On Job Training.