HCL Foundation Launches ‘Skill Rath’, a Mobile Skilling Van Initiative in Lucknow

Noida: An effort to provide counselling on vocational training and employment opportunities to help youth make informed choice about their career

HCL Foundation (HCLF), the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of HCL Technologies, has launched ‘Skill Rath’ in Lucknow to enable the local youth to make informed career decisions. This initiative, under the Skill Development and Livelihoods vertical of HCL Uday, is supported by the Directorate of Training and Employment, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh and will be implemented in partnership with Grey Sim Learnings Foundation.

Through this initiative, HCLF aims to reach out to over 10,000 young people in and around Lucknow to engage them in skilling activities and counsel them to make the right career choices. Students who have passed out from school will be eligible for counseling through Skill Rath on vocational training opportunities, vertical mobility and career options available to them.

Skill Rath is furbished as mini–Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) with equipment to showcase modern and emerging skills like Internet of Things (IoT), drone technology, robotics, 3D printing, etc. The program will also assess their interest levels and strengths towards a particular job role and then suggest an appropriate career path.

The initiative was flagged off by Mr. Kunal Silku, Director, Directorate of Employment, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh and Ms. Nidhi Pundhir, Director, HCL Foundation, today in the presence of Mr. Rishi Kumar, Vice President, HCL Technologies, Lucknow and Mr. Amit Gupta, Director, Grey Sim Foundation.
In addition to Skill Rath, HCLF will also support Government ITIs in Lucknow at Aliganj and Mohanlalganj with infrastructure development, training of trainers on newer technologies, and facilitate industry tie-ups, placements, apprenticeships, etc. Complimenting the efforts of Govt. of Uttar Pradesh and NGO partners, HCLF will also encourage the enrolment of girl and PWD (person with disability) students at ITIs by recommending them the innovative and future job roles with excellent employment potential.

Ms. Nidhi Pundhir, Director, HCL Foundation “We are delighted to launch ‘Skill Rath’, an initiative under the Skill Development and Livelihoods vertical of our urban flagship program HCL Uday,” said Ms. Nidhi Pundhir, Director, HCL Foundation. “This collaborative effort between HCL Foundation, our implementation partner Grey Sim Learnings Foundation and Govt. of Uttar Pradesh will ensure access to vocational training for the youth of our society. The goal of this initiative aligns with the International Youth Day objective, which emphasizes the rights of young people to have full access to education, healthcare, employment, monetary services, and complete participation in public life. Skill Rath will also strengthen ITIs on the aspects of industry connect, infrastructure, building capacity of trainers, placements, and innovation basis the grading framework developed by Directorate General of Training, Govt. of India. HCL Foundation is always committed to providing the best possible opportunities to the communities and helping them to lead a life of dignity and self-respect”,

Mr. Kunal Silku, Director, Directorate of Employment and Training, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh “Inclusivity in vocational training is to be promoted aggressively and initiatives like Skill Rath will help achieve this objective,” said Mr. Kunal Silku, Director, Directorate of Employment and Training, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh. “The true potential of our youth can be harnessed when they are given opportunities to learn and excel in emerging technologies, which will also benefit the Nation in the long run.”