The key findings from the Quality of Life survey conducted by the project team in 2008 informed that only 1% of the youth had any access to vocational training; only 9% of the women had any income of their own and there was a high demand for learning English and computers. The livelihood programmes on the project have been designed as a response to the aspirations and needs of the community. The programmes have focused on two main segments of the community – youth and women. The community’s aspirations and expectations thus have a strong role to play in the designing of the interventions.
Vocational Education and training is focused on Livelihood Generation for basti youth and women. The socio-economic survey indicated that only 1% of the youth had access to any kind of vocational training. A career development centre was setup that offers various courses time to time that prepare youth for the retail sector and other computer related professions, who have completed their schooling. Youth who have not completed schooling are offered apprenticeship courses – hospitality and construction related courses.
So far almost 3000 youth have been completed training programme and 62% youth have been placed in different companies and others gone for higher education and /or supporting family business.
Since inception in 2010, close to 2300 students have been trained in various courses and 55% of them have been successfully placed. The average salary ranges from Rs. 84,000 to Rs. 1,20,000 per annum. The NIIT centre has been running on a continued basis however, different apprenticeship courses are started every year depending upon the demand from the community. Courses like hair designing and beauty salon, paramedical, Nursery Teacher Training etc. are the ones stated this year. Driving and chef training are in the pipeline.