DISHA, flagship skill development programme by ACC LTD wins award at 19th FICCI CSR Awards 2021

Mumbai: ACC Limited has been conferred with the FICCI CSR Award under “Skill Development and Livelihood” category for its flagship CSR programme – Development initiative on Skills for Holistic Development (DISHA). The award was presented at the recently held Virtual Award Presentation Ceremony for 19th FICCI CSR Awards.

The award recognizes DISHA’s efforts to develop market- oriented skills in youth and create sustainable livelihoods by eliminating unemployment among people in host communities. The programme aims to provide alternate livelihoods around plant locations to unemployed youth either through training and placement or through self-employment initiatives.

Mr. Sridhar Balakrishnan, CEO & MD, ACC Limited said, “We have worked diligently through ACC Trust’s skilling initiative, DISHA towards the social and economic welfare of our youth communities. Being recognised for our efforts by a prestigious body like FICCI, further reaffirms our commitment towards creating opportunities for the youth through our skill development and livelihood initiatives.”

DISHA is driving the development of communities around ACC’s business presence and has so far covered 17 districts where it has implemented the project to eliminate unemployment. All the 17 DISHA centres follow an innovative way of solving the problem of unemployment through Participatory Rural Appraisal study of communities and household data based micro planning, counselling facilities, soft skills and digital skills. 17,915 youths have been trained through these centres so far.

In addition to this, core technical skills required for employability are also imparted. These centres also facilitate micro finance for micro enterprises, especially for those who cannot relocate themselves for work.

In FY 2020 – 21, ACC TRUST has allotted close to Rs. 4 crores to its DISHA initiative out of the total of Rs 32 crores allotted to CSR budget. This is one of the highest spent done on an initiative. DISHA centres are registered under Government of Chhattisgarh and Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yogana, Government of India. ACC DISHA project also works in close collaboration with National Skill Development Corporation, NGOs, Corporates and ten other Sector Skill Councils.