ATDC SMART Newzine Winter Issue by ATDC SMART

Between The Covers 04

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India’s ambitious skilling targets can only be met by expanding collaborative partnerships and adopting innovative models — and ATDC shows the way

COLLABORATING TO GROW 12

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14 -18 news flags l ATDC shines at India International Trade Fair l ATDC holds SMART State Coordinators’ meet l’Enable local craftsmen for fashion sustainability’ l Mission Hong Kong for more productivity, efficiency l ‘Democratisation of fashion key to future’

ATDC booster for Madhya Pradesh, Chhindwara

l Deciphering corporate needs l Presenting Khadi in SMART avatar l Catalysing skills in Madhya Pradesh

stories to tell

l Defying all odds

Honorary Managing Editor: Sh. Hari Kapoor, Vice-Chairman, ATDC

l Jobs galore at ATDC-Ludhiana/Ranchi l New Skill Camp at Kozhikode

l Birth of an entrepreneur l SMART Innovations/ATDC celebrates Ayudha Puja

l Wise choice

Chief Patron: Dr. A. Sakthivel, Chairman AEPC, ATDC & IAM

Chief Editor: Dr. Darlie O. Koshy DG & CEO, ATDC & IAM

l Towards foreign shores

interview

‘ATDC is doing yeomen service in Chhindwara’: Shri Kamal Nath, Hon’ble Union Minister of Urban Development & Parliamentary Affairs

SMART NewZine is a bi-monthly publication of ATDC. All rights reserved. Content from SMART NewZine may be reproduced with permission. Feedback/ suggestion/ articles/ advertisements may be sent to: smartnewzine@atdcindia.co.in

in summary Unfolding the ATDC-NYKS story: Ms. Nita Chowdhury, IAS, Secretary (Youth Affairs), Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, GoI

Cover Design: Mithun Mukherjee CONTRIBUTORS: ATDC FIELD AND STATE-LEVEL TEAMS

Editor: Ms. Aanchal Prabhakar Jagga Content and Design: IANS Publishing

‘Open’ Dialogue

roviding employable skills to youth, who comprise about 50 percent of the population, has been a primary focus of our Government over the last decade. It is only by right-skilling a vast number of people that India can take advantage of what is described as its demographic dividend. Turning our demographic dividend into a “labour dividend” is the real challenge. The Government has focused on creating skill infrastructure to provide vocational training in multiple skill-sets to the youth in the country. The need of the hour is to re-orient the skill vocational syllabi to suit the apparel and textiles industry’s real-time requirements. The main advantage of SHRI KAMAL NATH, ATDC is quality training as HON’BLE UNION per the current technologiMINISTER OF URBAN cal needs of the apparel and DEVELOPMENT AND PARLIAMENTARY textiles industry. Once the AFFAIRS, GOI person is trained by ATDC, he/she can easily get employment opportunities in the apparel sector. ATDC-SMART training ‘Open’ Dialogue project has, in recent years, attracted widespread atten- is an ATDC forum to tion as these courses pro- discuss, debate and vide fast-track training to disseminate ideas youth in employable skills. There is geographical that we hope will mismatch, sectoral misshape the present and match and skill mismatch future of the textile in many of our states and industries. The youth in and apparel industry certain industrially-backward states don’t get employment in their own states and have to travel long distances to find jobs. It is high time that industries like apparel, which is ‘footloose’, should de-congest and move to Tier 2/3/4 cities/towns to find the right labour and, more importantly, to contribute where the ‘apparel economy’ can make a difference. The industry needs to reach out and set up units closer to where the trained labour force is.

CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE As we leave behind an year which swung between ‘many highs’ and ‘many lows’, let me wish you all a very happy and productive New Year 2013. I am sure the New Year will provide a tipping point for the apparel export sector as well as the domestic fashion industry with European Union Free Trade Agreement, proposed to be signed early this year helping apparel exports, and FDI’s positive impact catalysing the domestic sector. The Apparel and Textiles industry will certainly have more ‘sunshine’ days ahead. With the 12th Five-Year Plan coming into full force, there will be more thrust on the skill development front by scaling up operations via implementing agencies like ATDC that has emerged as the largest vocational skill training network for the apparel sector in the country. In order to pursue the ambitious target of skilling 48,000 people for the pilot period of 2011-12 and 2012-13, ATDC has entered into multiple collaborative partnerships with Central/Apex organisations, State Governments and their agencies, NGOs, etc. In the case of ATDC, the major thrust has been on creating strong linkages with various stakeholders for mobilisation of candidates, and with the apparel industry units for generating employment for the successful trainees. With the target of skilling 2,50,000 people being set for the 12th FYP with substantial funding support from Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, there is even more pressing need for expanding collaborations at all levels. Proactive engagement of the stakeholders, especially the LMC members across the country, as well as ‘Bhagidari’ with State Governments and apparel industry units, will go a long way towards achieving the objectives of the Integrated Skill Development Scheme (ISDS) being implemented by ATDC on behalf of MOT, GOI. The current NewZine issue in your hands is focused on ‘Collaborative Partnerships’ and I am sure that in the progressive journey of ATDC towards ‘skilling India’ and ‘upskilling apparel sector’, you will extend your continuous cooperation and unstinted support. — Dr. A. Sakthivel, Chairman, AEPC & ATDC & IAM

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SMART PARTNERSHIPS

India’s ambitious skilling targets can only be met by expanding collaborative partnerships and adopting innovative models — and ATDC shows the way

in focus

he task at hand is humongous — and the time available limited. The National Policy on Skill Development approved by the Government of India under its 2010 National Skill Development Mission has set itself the ambitious target of skilling 500 million people — almost half the nation’s current population — by the year 2022.

Naturally, the apparel and textiles sector — the second-largest provider of direct employment after agriculture — is a key focus area. The Union Ministry of Textiles has given the Apparel Training & Design Centre (ATDC) the mandate to drive the skilling requirements of apparel sector, as a nodal agency. And in a matter of just over two years, since October 2010, ATDC has enrolled over 45,000 people at its 125 nationwide hubs and peripatetic centres, called SMART Centres, which expand to ‘Skills for Manufacturing of Apparel

‘Decentralise, collaborate’ Hon’ble Prime Minister on importance of partnerships and private sector in achieving India’s skilling goals Chairing a meeting this year of the National Council on Skill Development (NCSD), the apex institution he had set up in 2008, Hon’ble Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made three important observations.

The launch of the ‘ATDC-SMART Students’ Manual’ in three vernaculars — Hindi, Bengali and Oriya — at IITF in New Delhi. Seen in the picture, Mr. RCM Reddy, Chairman, FICCI Skills Development Forum; Mr. Dilip Chenoy, MD & CEO, NSDC; and Dr. Darlie O. Koshy, DG & CEO, ATDC & IAM.

It will be impossible for the government alone to deal with the skills requirement of an estimated 260 million people by 2018 and 340 million by 2022 to reap India’s potential demographic dividend.

There has to be a decentralised mechanism to address the issue of skill development, involving greater partnership with institutions outside of the government.

Focus must be on sectors like textiles, infrastructure, real estate, automobiles, health care, retail and logistics as they offer a huge employment potential.

It is for these reasons that in the three-tier administrative structure for skill development in India — the apex NCSD chaired by the prime minister himself, the National Skill Development Coordination Board (NSDCB) chaired by the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) chaired by a person drawn from the private sector — the emphasis has been on collaborations. Among them, the NSDC was specifically set up as a non-profit body to promote and co-opt the private sector action in this area.

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ATDC has trained thousands of candidates falling in ST, SC, OBC and minority categories that today, they are working shoulder-to-shoulder with people from the cities in garment factories. — Mr. A.A. Naqvi, Managing Director, NBCFDC

through Research and Training’. ATDC is, however, not sitting on its laurels. In the 12th Five Year Plan (201213 to 2016-17) that is now underway, the organisation has set itself a target of skilling 250,000 people. The question is: How should it go about achieving this huge target? And the answer: By thinking out of the box. WHY COLLABORATE? Collaborate to Grow. That is the mantra that ATDC has adopted to achieve its skilling target. It has forged partnerships across the public-private and CentreState spaces so as to cast the net wide enough to bring in its ambit people from every strata of society, especially the underprivileged and marginalised in India’s vast rural hinterland. As Dr. A. Sakthivel, AEPC & ATDC Chairman, puts it: “The Government is, of course, the fountainhead. But we need beach-heads as well. And the innovative collaborations and partnerships we are forming will bring more and more people into the skilling mission. They are acting like force multipliers.” ATDC has been actively working on finding the right partners to achieve greater geographic spread and grow the numbers it trains. And finding the right partner is important, notes Dr. Darlie O. Koshy, CEO of ATDC and the Institute

of Apparel Management (IAM). “The right partnership is the key as the collaborating organisation knows the target group and their aspirations and requirements the best. The partnerships with NBCFDC, NSFDC, REEMAP, NYKS, KSWDC and similar others have shown the way in terms of reaching out to youth, women and disadvantaged sections of the society, raising bridge funds and meeting other post-training requirements,” he explains. Take, for instance, Central Government bodies with their own target focuses such as the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sanghatan (NYKS), the National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation (NBCFDC), the National Scheduled Castes Finance Development Corporation (NSFDC), the National Scheduled Tribes Finance Corporation (NSTFC) and the National Safai Karamcharis Finance Development Corporation (NSKFDC). Or statelevel institutions such as the Tamil Nadu Skill Development Mission, Kerala State Women’s Development Corporation (KSWDC) or the Rajiv Education and Employment Mission in Andhra Pradesh (REEMAP). Tie-ups with each of these bodies helps ATDC reach their target groups in a more effective manner. (See box: Major Collaborations) Mr. H.S. Kingra, Chairman and Managing Director, NSFDC, underlines the point. “The advantage of such partnership is threefold,” he says. “One, the sponsors help the weaker sections — in our case, persons belonging to Scheduled Castes — to get free training with stipend. Two, industry gets skilled hands, and three, trainees get gainful employment and permanent livelihood-earning capabilities.” ATDC has been collaborating with NSFDC since

Inclusive growth can only be achieved if various government schemes are complemented with global knowledge that organisations like ATDC bring with them. — Dr. K.C. Reddy, Chairman, REEMAP

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2000 and has so far trained close to 6,000 candidates. Adds REEMAP Chairman Dr. K.C.Reddy: “Sponsoring ATDC students belonging to our target group has not only helped them enter the mainstream and find gainful employment, but has also opened gateways for the communities concerned. The foray of the disadvantaged sections into garment factories has helped a large section of our target group get skilled, thus contributing towards the National Skills Mission.” REEMAP has sanctioned ATDC training under a pilot project that is currently being executed in Hyderabad and Vizag. GOING LOCAL Apart from Central- and State-level collaborations, going completely local is another important way of expanding the skill mission and reaching the doorsteps of those who really need skilling. “Providing training at the block or district levels would cover the maximum beneficiaries. The help of municipal corporations and panchayats should be taken to identify eligible candidates,” points out Lalit Kohli, Managing Director, NSKFDC. It is an idea that finds traction in places as far apart as West Bengal and Kerala. “The very idea of the National Skill Mission will be defeated if centres do not come up in far-flung areas to cover very large sections of society. The involvement of municipalities and panchayats is a must to make the programme a success,” notes Syed Samsul Alam, Vice Chancellor of the Kolkatabased Aliah University, which has been sponsoring ATDC trainees for the last three years.

“Grassroot-level planning and devolution of powers are the core points of democratic decentralisation. Bringing local self-government institutions into such a professional arena would empower people,” adds Mr. M.K. Muneer, Minister for Social Welfare and Panchayat in Kerala, who believes ATDC can help by collaborating with Kudumbashree, the women’s empowerment movement in the state that has 37 lakh members. Going local is an idea ATDC is actively pursuing, says Mr. Hari Kapoor, Vice Chairman, ATDC. “We already have fruitful collaborations with the State Urban Development Authorities (SUDA) of Chhattisgarh as well as West Bengal. SUDA, West Bengal, has sanctioned sponsorship of 3,000 trainees for the current year and has also facilitated tripartite MOUs with various municipalities,” says Mr. Kapoor. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has, meanwhile, offered built-up space at Adugodi, Malleswram and Nagarbhavi in Bengaluru, besides contributing towards the deficit in training costs. And similar alliances are being forged elsewhere as well. There are also several instances of Members of Parliament and Members of Legislative Assemblies using their Local Area Development funds to bring ATDC’s training expertise to the youth of their constituencies. Hon’ble Union Minister of Urban Development and Parliamentary Affairs Shri Kamal Nath is a pioneer in this area. He has championed the creation of an entire skill hub in his constituency of Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh. Among those he invited was ATDC, which he calls “a perfect fit” for his constituency. With trained man-

ATDC Bangalore students, from N-E states, were trained as part of collaborative partnership under the DONER scheme. They got employment with companies like LT Karle, Silver Spark and SAP Apparels.

Candidates Sponsored by Apex Organisations During 2012-13 Region North East West South Total

No. of Candidates Sponsored NSFDC 780 770 1,050 450 3,050

NBCFDC 1,125 420 910 460 2,915

NYKS 1,680 1,200 720 720 4,320

NMDFC 120 0 90 0 210

Total 3,705 2,390 2,770 1,630 10,495

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MAJOR COLLABORATIONS 1. Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) The NYKS, Ministry of Youth Affairs, GoI, has been sponsoring ATDC candidates for SMART courses for over a year now.The ATDC Pan-India network has so far trained over 300 candidates sponsored by NYKS and recently, an approval to train 4,320 candidates has been received. 2. Tamil Nadu Skill Development Mission (TNSDM) Department of Social Welfare, Tamil Nadu, has mandated ATDC to up-skill 54,000 uniform tailors and plans to provide them with modern Juki machines post training so as to augment their earning capabilities. 3. Rajiv Education and Employment Mission in Andhra Pradesh (REEMAP) It is coordinating skill training activities in Andhra Pradesh. As a pilot project, REEMAP has sanctioned the sponsorship of candidates for SMART courses in Hyderabad & Vizag. 4. National Scheduled Castes Finance & Development Corporation (NSFDC) Since 2000, NSFDC has been giving sanctions to ATDC for imparting skill training to Scheduled Caste candidates.The ATDC’s pan-India network has so far trained over 6,000 SC candidates sponsored by NSFDC. 5. National Backward Classes Finance & Development Corporation (NBCFDC) Since 2001, NBCFDC has been giving sanctions to ATDC for imparting skill training to Backward Class candidates. ATDC’s pan-India network has so far trained over 3,000 Backward Class candidates sponsored by NBCFDC.

karamcharis. ATDC’s pan-India network has so far trained over 1,000 safai karamcharis sponsored by NSKFDC. 8. National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation (NHFDC) Since 2004, NHFDC has been giving sanctions to ATDC for imparting skill training to handicapped candidates. ATDC’s pan-India network has so far trained over 50 handicapped candidates sponsored by NSKFDC. 9. RIICO The Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RIICO) provides stipendiary and financial support for training candidates at the ATDC-SMART Centres in Rajasthan. It has also provided built-up space for ATDC-SMART Centres at Sitapura, Jodhpur and elsewhere in the state and plans to support setting up ToT Academy in the state.

The ATDC-SMART training centres provide all facilities and infrastructure required by the courses in the present scenario. The ATDC Centres are well equipped with all modern technology and equipment. — Mr. Lalit Kohli, Managing Director, NSKFDC

10. State Urban Development Authority (SUDA) SUDA Chhattisgarh has sanctioned the sponsorship of 3,000 trainees for the current year, while SUDA West Bengal has facilitated tripartite MoUs with various municipalities for sanction of sponsorships of 1,800 trainees. 11. Aliah University, West Bengal It has been sponsoring trainees for ATDC Community College for the past three years. 12. Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) BBMP Karnataka has offered built-up space to ATDC at Adugodi, Malleswram and Nagarbhavi in Bengaluru under west & south of BBMP

6. National Minorities Development & Finance Corporation (NMDFC) Since 2006, NMDFC has been giving sanctions to ATDC for imparting skill training to minority candidates. ATDC’s pan-India network has so far trained over 840 minority candidates sponsored by NMDFC.

13. Collaborations in Madhya Pradesh The MP Hasta Shilpa Vikas Nigam Ltd. has sanctioned sponsorship for 3,000 trainees this year while MP Council for Employment & Training (MAPCET) sponsored 4,000 trainees and MP Khadi and Gramudyog Board 1,200 trainees.

7. National Safai Karamcharis Finance & Development Corporation (NSKFDC) Since 2007, NSKFDC has been giving sanctions to ATDC for imparting skill training to safai

14. Collaborations in Himachal Pradesh Himachal Pradesh’s Department of Industries has shown interest in starting ATDC-SMART Centres in 12 districts.

To address the need of trainers in the apparel sector in the state, ATDC, with RIICO’s support, will start a Training of Trainers’ (TOT) Academy in Jodhpur and expand its Gurgaon Academy in Bhiwadi region. — Mr. Naveen Mahajan, Managing Director, RIICO

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Grassroot-level planning and devolution of powers are the core points of democratic decentralisation. Bringing local self-government institutions into such arena would empower people. — Shri M.K. Muneer,

Minister for Social Welfare and Panchayat in Kerala power available, there are today several apparel and textiles units in and around the region. “Students trained by ATDC could thus find employment not very far from their domicile,” he told SMART Newzine in an interview. (Also see ‘Open Dialogue’ and ‘Flashlight’) FUNDING THE GAP Collaborations fulfil another key function — that of bridging the finance gap. “Government funding can achieve only so much, which is why there is a stress on private-public partnerships when it comes to the National Skill Mission,” says Dr. Darlie Koshy. With budgets available for skilling of their target groups, Central and State bodies are able to sponsor ATDC candidates and help them measure up to the requirements of the textiles and apparel industry.

There are other advantages as well — some of these institutions also fund the entrepreneurial ambitions of their target groups once they have the requisite training and skills. Says Mr. A.K. Punia, Deputy General Manager (Training) at NBCFDC: “Inclusive growth can be achieved if various Government schemes are complemented to achieve the desired goal. For instance, NBCFDC loans are available to trained youths to establish their own production units after successful completion of training programmes at ATDC.” For public or private sector corporations with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) goals, collaborating with ATDC means putting their money to good use. One example is the Rajasthan Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RIICO), which is

mandated to attract investors to the state and provide them the infrastructure to successfully do business. “Skilled manpower availability has assumed an important position in the location matrix analysis of an investor,” notes RIICO Managing Director Mr. Naveen Mahajan. “One of our objectives is to achieve optimal development of human capital. In the Rajasthan Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy 2010, textiles and apparel have been included as thrust areas. It is important to emphasise skill development for the sustainable growth of these sectors in Rajasthan.” RIICO provides financial support for SMART Centres opened by ATDC in Rajasthan. “We are happy to know that students who have acquired training here are finding employment in industry. We are hopeful that in the years ahead, Rajasthan will have more garment units,” says Mr. Mahajan. To address the need of trainers in the textiles and apparel sector in the state, ATDC, with RIICO’s support, will also start an ATDC-SMART Training of Trainers’ (TOT) Academy in the state of Rajasthan and expand its Gurgaon Academy to Bhiwadi region in the next financial year.

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INTERVIEW: Mr. H.S. Kingra, Chairman and Managing Director, NSFDC

‘ATDC-SMART Project is industry-centric’ What are the specific advantages of collaborations/sponsorships in skilling? Collaborations/sponsorships in imparting skills to young people involve commitment of training expenditure by the sponsorer to the training institution, which, in turn, can conduct the training professionally and provide post training placements by collaborating with the industry.The specific advantages in this partnership are three fold — (a) the sponsors benefit the weaker sections of the society such as the persons belonging to Scheduled Castes to get free training with stipendary benefits, (b) the industry gets supply of skilled hands to ensure production and (c) the trainees get gainful employment and permanent livelihood earning capability with good future growth prospects in the line.

Is having a master model like ATDC-SMART Training project helpful? Especially in terms of the scale it offers as well as the standardisation and uniformity of the curriculum it provides? The ATDC-SMART Project is industry-centric and provides direct help to the industry to get skilled hands in large numbers. Skills are imparted strictly on standardised pattern and as per the requirement of the Sectoral Industry. The uniformity in curricula, training resources and quality monitoring bring quality and excellence to produce expert skilled workers for various operations. This Proj-

ect is specially helpful because the Garment producing Centres in India have a healthy policy of encouraging employable persons from various corners of the country. ATDC’s collaborative tie-ups are helping build the educational & training modules repository at various levels. Can you suggest more such steps to complement the Government schemes for achieving inclusive growth? Collaborative tie-up of ATDC with the apparel industry is no doubt helping in standardisation of training modules, but there is need to supplement this with foreign institutional and brand tie-up to upgrade the skills as per the needs of markets abroad, and it will en-

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sure to full exploitation of the export markets all around the globe. This could be achieved by encouraging formation of exclusive Self-Help Groups (SHGs) of women beneficiaries and linking them with exporters to produce foreign market specific goods on a large scale.

ATDC-SMART initiative can usher a new era, a new zeal and a new resurgence of energy if only local bodies play an active role in every other centre set up for the purpose. — Prof. Syed Samsul Alam, VC, Aliah University, W. Bengal

There is often a mis-match between the need for skilled manpower in a particular region and its availability. How can this be corrected? Can inter-state alliances play a role in this – and how? Inter-state alliances could play an active role in this task. To quote an example, the trainees belonging to Scheduled Castes under the NSFDC-sponsored programmes find gainful employment in garment industries of Bengaluru. The industries find the work force from outside to be more hardworking and sincere. Such tie-ups should be encouraged in other states with similar production centres.

THE ATDC ADVANTAGE For partners and collaborators, the advantages of forging an alliance with ATDC are self-evident. ATDC’s SMART is a kind of “master model”. It boasts of state-of-the-art facilities and highly developed infrastructure. “It can easily be adapted to the different, and sometimes specific, requirements of the partner organisations or agencies,” says Dr. Koshy. The spread of the SMART network across the country also means that it is easily accessible. As Mr. Kingra of NSFDC puts it: “ATDC has a presence in almost every state in India. This makes it easier for us to help provide job-oriented training to students belonging to Scheduled Caste in any part of the country.”

ATDC’s standardised training modules and curricula, moreover, make it easier for trainees to get jobs anywhere in the apparel sector. “The standardised approach is very appealing,” says Mr. A.A. Naqvi, Managing Director of NBCFDC, adding: “Trainees get accustomed to the demands of the apparel industry, like yardsticks of quality, export demand, latest technology in cutting, sewing, pattern-making and finishing. The uniformity of the training modules has helped our target group understand the nuances of manufacturing apparel that match global standards.” Its close links with industry as well its association with the Apparel Export

NBCFDC loans are available to trained youths to establish their own production units after successful completion of training programmes at ATDC. — Shri A.K. Punia, Deputy GM (Training), NBCFDC

Promotion Council (AEPC), its parent body, gives ATDC access to latest global trends and technologies in the apparel sector. Its association with the exporters and industry leaders help the students passing out of ATDC get easy placements. “Our 75 percent placement record over the past couple of years is testimony to this fact,” notes ATDC Vice Chairman Mr. Kapoor. “Finally, and most importantly, collaborating with ATDC makes tremendous economic sense. We have two key drivers — the master model and stateof-the-art facilities in place, and we have the ability to ensure linkages to gainful employment. So there is no need for these organisations/agencies to re-invent the wheel and set up training facilities of their own,” Dr. Koshy points out. Little wonder, there are unending examples of successful collaborations which ATDC has forged, nurtured and expanded over the years and is now in the process of adding new dimensions to — and these partnerships are attracting others like a magnet.

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The new ATDC-Chhindwara Integrated Campus at Imlikhera.

Students at the new ATDC-Chhindwara Integrated Campus.

ATDC booster for Madhya Pradesh, Chhindwara In a short span of four years, the ATDC movement has taken Madhya Pradesh by storm, and Chhindwara has become a case study of how the disadvantaged tribals are swiftly being brought into the ambit of employment & better livelihood

irst the facts. Madhya Pradesh, fourth in the country in cotton production, has an textiles/apparel industry exporting garments worth over `1,800 crore to foreign shores. Armed with abundant labour in a friendly business atmosphere, Madhya Pradesh is all set to join the leading apparel manufacturing states (See box). Four years back, having identified the need to prepare a skilled workforce to take on the burgeoning demand, ATDC entered the state in Chhindwara and slowly began spreading its wings to various nearby districts. Today, it has a strong presence in Amarwara, Jabalpur, Bhopal, Dindori and Narsinghpur districts. Soon, it will expand to Sausar/Pandhurna, Tamia/Harrai, Pipariya and Seoni

areas, covering a large swathe of the state where a huge workforce is waiting to join the apparel bandwagon. Pan back to Chhindwara. Under the guidance and spirited leadership of Hon’ble Union Minister of Urban Development and Parliamentary Affairs Shri Kamal Nath, the district, which has a large tribal belt, has grown in stature to rub shoulders with the big textiles and apparel centres in the country. Located in the south-west region of the Satpuda range of mountains, the district boasts of some big apparel players today. Raymonds is manufacturing 50 percent of its total suit production here. M/s. Shahi Export Pvt. Ltd. has started its shirt manufacturing unit and, soon, with a proposed apparel park in Pandhurna, the stage is set for more big names to join the Chhindwara growth story. “There are over 10 textile and garment units in and around Chhind-

Textiles scenario in MP One of the highest cotton producing states in India – 14.50 lakh bales of production in 2009-10 ● 6% of India’s cotton produced in MP ● More than 55 textile mills in the state ● Textiles exports from Madhya Pradesh worth US$325 million per annum ● Rich tradition of weaving & knitting ●

flashlight wara, all vying for skilled workforce. ATDC, for its expertise and wide array of job-oriented courses, was a natural choice for us to bring employmentlinked education right to the doorsteps, connecting rural youth to the mainstream,” says Shri Kamal Nath, who has been painstakingly working for the growth of his constituency for over three decades. The seeds were sown for a better tomorrow when Shri Kamal Nath inaugurated the ATDC-Chhindwara Centre in 2008. To begin with, the Centre enrolled 131 youth. Since then, it has skilled over 6,000 students from the weaker sections, especially tribal belts. According to District Collector Mr Mahesh Chand Choudhary, “During my last visit to the Chhindwara campus, I was glad to see the innovative work by the students on khadi. To say the least, the ATDC-Chhindwara Centre, like a ‘Light House’, is developing the skills, providing job opportunities and also helping in poverty eradication in Chhindwara.” “For the benefit of the weavers' community and the weaker section of the society, the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and departments like Hast Shilp Vikas Nigam (HSVN), the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) are sponsoring youth to be skilled through ATDC-SMART fasttrack courses. We now aim to train more and more youth from SC/ST/OBC sections so the purpose of setting up ATDC in Chhindwara can be scaled,” he says. For LMC member Mr Rajendra Singh Rajput, the ATDC-SMART training project is working as a Master Model for Skill Development in Madhya Pradesh. “The model can now be used for skill development in other vocational courses. The ATDC-SMART courses are among the best in terms of standardised and uniform training modules,” adds Mr Rajput. With more and more garment manufacturers taking the apparel route to Chhindwara, it is even more challenging for ATDC to train adequate numbers of people. “We have regularly been receiving support from the office of Hon’ble Minister Shri Kamal Nath here. ATDC has collaborated with or-

INTERVIEW: Shri Kamal Nath

‘ATDC is doing yeomen service in Chhindwara’

Spread the word SMART-ly, says Shri Kamal Nath Words of encouragement always make a person strive for better results. A few of such words came from Hon’ble Union Minister of Urban Development and Parliamentary Affairs Shri Kamal Nath during his visit to ATDC-Chhindwara’s new Integrated Campus at Imlikhera on September 25, 2012. During the interaction with the students, and faculty members, the minister said he was very happy with the fact that many of them have successfully been placed in various garment manufacturing companies in the state, mainly Shahi Exports — one of the largest garment manufacturers and exporters in India. He informed students that more leading manufacturing garment companies are planning to start operations in Chhindwara soon, so there would be plenty of job opportunities in the future. Shri Kamal Nath also asked the students to spread the word about SMART courses in their neighbourhood.

ganisations like the District Urban Development Agency (DUDA), HSVN, Khadi Gramudyog and State Tribal Development Department for regular sponsorship of students,” informs Principal, ATDC-Chhindwara Centre. Finding jobs haven’t been a problem for ATDC-SMART students. “The students have got employment with Shahi Exports, Bangalore, Unitex Apparel, Bangalore, and Pratibha Syntex, Indore, among others. Shahi Exports selected 55 students as operators and checkers at its Chhindwara unit recently,” says the Principal. With ATDC making an impact in Chhindwara, as well as the rest of the state, we are looking at a future where the poor are no more staying home but earning gainful employment, and even giving back to their communities. Most success stories are written this way. Aren’t they?

For a decade, you have been focusing on skill development in Chhindwara. How did this vision come about? Creating employment opportunities for youth in Chhindwara, my constituency since 1980, has been a primary concern and an enduring mission. I have focused on creating skill training infrastructure for providing vocational training in multiple skills to youth while attracting the industry to set-up production facilities to absorb them. Today, the skills development institutes in Chhindwara boast of training faculties from corporates like Larsen & Toubro, Cisco, Pratibha Syntex, Shahi Exports and others. What is the thought behind creating a skill hub in the heart of Chhindwara? I have put in sustained efforts to envision and realise a multi-skill hub that would train the youth and women with employable skills. Since 2007, several companies – from Ambuja Cement to Punj Lloyd and Mahindra & Mahindra to Toyota Kirloskar Motors, L&T and GMR – are now imparting training to youth in Chhindwara. ATDC came next, and it was a perfect fit. Today, there are several apparel and textiles units in and around the region. Students trained by ATDC could thus find employment not very far from their domicile. Is there a plan to bring employers to the state so that youth can find employment within the state itself? Of course. Thanks to the availability of professionally-trained manpower by ATDC SMART, I expect more textile and apparel units to be set up – making the region a textile-apparel hub. In fact, there is already a proposal for setting up an apparel park. What is your advice to ATDC in the context of the brand new campus being opened there? I am happy to learn that ATDC has already trained over 6,000 students since its inception in Chhindwara. It is doing yeomen service. The upcoming ATDC-Training of Trainers' (TOT) Academy, only the third in the country, will enhance its all-round quality and capabilities and place it in the national context of the growing apparel industry.

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Event

ATDC shines at India International Trade Fair

s one of the largest vocational skill provider for apparel sector in India, ATDC participated in the 32nd edition of the India International Trade Fair (IITF), held at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi from November 14-27. The theme of this year’s IITF was ‘Skilling India’, projecting the performance of the Central government and state ministries, departments and private sector in the related fields. The ATDC stall at the fair, which was part of the theme pavilion set up by the

Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, was spread over an area of 1200 sq. ft. at Hall No. 1A and showcased the ATDCSMART Training Programme for the Apparel Sector and the comprehensive Integrated Skill Development Scheme of MoT, GOI, along with ‘live demonstration’ of latest apparel sewing machines. Another ATDC stall was set up at the Bihar pavilion of IITF. ATDC’s parent organisation, the Apparel Export Promotion Council of India (AEPC), set up a stall in the Haryana pavilion showcasing the

ATDC-PATNA AT IITF Proving itself as a leading force for vocational training in the apparel sector in Bihar, ATDC-Patna represented the state in the Bihar Pavilion at the 32nd India International Trade Fair (IITF), held in New Delhi from November 14-27. Showcasing the successful implementation of ATDCSMART Training Project in Bihar, ATDCPatna was among the nine organisations selected by the Bihar government to participate in the trade fair. It was recognised as one-of-its-kind institution, providing placement-linked skill development training to the unemployed and economically weaker sections of the society in the state through its various centres. ATDC-Patna’s participation in the fair not only exhibited ATDC’s vision and skill development initiatives but also projected ATDC as a Skill Ambassador on an international platform and provided an unmatched exposure to ATDC students and faculty members.

Education & Training Initiatives. On the opening day, Mr. Dilip H.M. Chenoy, Managing Director, National Skill Development Corporation, along with Mr. R.C.M. Reddy, Chairman-FICCI Skill Development Forum, launched the ‘ATDCSMART Students’ Manual’ in three vernaculars — Hindi, Bengali and Oriya — in the presence of Dr. Darlie O. Koshy, DG & CEO, ATDC & IAM and ATDC team. “Trade fairs and job fairs are wonderful platforms to spread awareness about not only the courses offered by ATDC but also various scholarships and sponsorships available for students,” Dr. Darlie Koshy, DG & CEO, ATDC & IAM, said. ATDC is looking for collaborative partnerships with various state governments as well as civil society organisations and industry players to reach out to a larger section of rural and underprivileged students, he added. “While the state governments can provide funding and space for setting up ATDC centres in new areas, civil society organisations can help spread awareness about the ATDC curricula & teaching pedagogy and also provide sponsorship to the candidates,” Mr. Hari Kapoor, Vice Chairman, ATDC, said. A large number of industry players are also coming forward to sponsor candidates for ATDC courses besides providing suitable placements to successful students.

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ATDC holds SMART State Coordinators’ meet NYKS TO SPONSOR OVER 4,000 STUDENTS TILL MARCH

n order to discuss strategies for better implementation of the SMART Project, ATDC organised a two-day workshop for its SMART State Coordinators and key officials at its National Head Office in Gurgaon on October 17-18. The objective of the workshop was to share and learn from the experiences gathered on completion of initial sixmonths of the academic year of the project. Principals, State Coordinators, General Managers, and other Senior Officials converged at the Paridhan Vikas Bhawan to chart out clear strategies and action plan for the next six months and

meet the target of training 34,000 candidates under ATDC-SMART Training Project. The State Coordinators shared comprehensive presentations focusing on the performance, achievements and challenges in their respective states. “It has been an enriching experience in understanding other states’ strategies in mobilising resources. Such enriching Pan-India workshops at ATDC are a great platform,” said Lopamudra Das Ghosh, ATDC-Principal, who, along with her team, has achieved 184 percent training targets in Orissa. In Rajasthan, ATDC has achieved 153 percent training targets.

iving a further boost to its association with ATDC, the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) has accorded dovetail support for 4,320 candidates under the ATDC-SMART Training Project of the ISDS, Ministry of Textiles, GOI, till March 2013. Aiming to replicate the success of the pilot project in Uttar Pradesh, NYKS and ATDC-SMART have decided to start training programmes at select locations across 68 districts in India. “In total, we aim to sponsor 10,000 students this year and 4,320 of them will be from ATDC,” said Dr. C.S. Pran, Director, NYKS.

Dr. A. Sakthivel, Chairman, AEPC, urged the State Coordinators to exchange and share success models and replicate them in their respective states to maximise results on the front of skilling and preparing a large pool of workforce for the growing apparel and textiles sector.

Visits

‘Enable local craftsmen for fashion sustainability’ The crafts form the DNA of a country and a new idiom of luxury is born when traditional crafts are combined with creativity.” This valuable insight was provided by Dr. Darlie O. Koshy, DG & CEO, ATDC & IAM, who was invited as a speaker at the Sri Lanka Design Festival’s ‘Sustainable Fashion Symposium and South Asian Apparel Leadership Forum’, organised in Colombo from November 16-18. Dr. Koshy was part of knowledge leaders on sustainable fashion who gathered in Sri Lanka to find practical solutions for manufacturing, buying, sourcing and sustainability. “Crafts are important and support

differentiation of countries in terms of creativity and design. In that regard, enabling local craftsmen to take their work forward is imperative for the design industry, both in the local as well as global contexts,” Dr. Koshy told the gathering at the Sustainable Fashion Symposium. While speaking at the ‘South Asian Apparel Leadership Forum’, Dr. Darlie Koshy called for a more innovative approach in order to facilitate export of higher value goods from countries like India and Sri Lanka. In order to explore possible areas of collaboration, Dr. Darlie Koshy held meetings with Ms. Linda Speldewinde of Academy of Design, Sri Lanka.

MISSION HONG KONG FOR MORE PRODUCTIVITY, EFFICIENCY In a bid to further augment ATDC’s association with the Clothing Industry Training Authority (CITA), Dr. Darlie O. Koshy, DG & CEO, ATDC & IAM, visited Hong Kong from October 21-23 as part of a delegation headed by Ms. Manisha Sinha, Director, Ministry of Textiles, GOI. Dr. Koshy recommended that CITA trainers in the areas of sewing line management, line balancing, productivity, efficiency and sustainability should be invited to ATDC to train the faculty and industry members. The BOG of ATDC approved the proposal to invite CITA to conduct three back-toback programmes in February 2013.

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Events

‘Democratisation of fashion key to future’

he apparel and textiles sector is estimated to employ over seven million workers directly and 25 million indirectly, out of which 50 percent is estimated to be from the apparel export sector. “Under the 12th Five Year Plan, ATDCSMART plans to train 35,000 candidates by 2017 with one SMART TOT Academy and 25 ATDC-SMART Peripatetic Centres/Skill Camps in the state”, Mr. Hari Kapoor, Vice Chairman, ATDC said. Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Hari Kapoor said that ATDC-SMART training project is not only contributing towards the systematic growth and human and technological edge of the apparel industry but also providing highly skilled and efficient workforce with the right attitude, soft skills and commitment to work in industrial manufacturing environments. “The ultimate target of the ATDCSMART programme is to bring about overall systematic change in the apparel industry and provide better quality of life to the trainees,” he added. “Since inception, ATDC has trained over 6,800 candidates across Rajasthan and is presently providing training to students via 14 ATDC-SMART Hubs,

Peripatetic Centres and Skill Camps in the state,” said Dr. Darlie O. Koshy, DG & CEO, ATDC & IAM, at the ‘Vastra 2012 International Textiles Fair’ in Rajasthan on November 24. “In the next 10 years, the sector is expected to generate 17 million jobs in textiles and clothing sector and 9.34 million engineers, diploma holders, vocationally trained, other graduates etc. in the trade,” informed Dr. Darlie O. Koshy, DG & CEO, ATDC & IAM, while giving a presentation titled ‘Fashion Forward: Trends in ‘Fibre to Fashion’ &

Deciphering corporate needs

n a move to prepare students for the work ethics and culture in the apparel sector, ATDC-Ludhiana organised a day-long seminar titled ‘An Insight into the Corporate Working of Apparel Industry’ at its campus on September 14. The objective was two-pronged: to widen the horizons of ATDC-Ludhiana students and help them adapt to the work culture of the readymade garment industry once they complete their training programmes at ATDC. While delivering the keynote address, Mr. Ambrish Kumar, General Manager (HR & IR), M/s. Neva Garments Ltd, Ludhiana, said such seminars would help reduce the attrition rate prevailing in the garment industry. “Such a situation will definitely be a win-win for both — the industry as well

as the students,” he added. Students attending the seminar found the opportunity quite encouraging and got an insight into the requirements and expectations of the garment industry.

Upskilling Apparel Sector in Rajasthan’ at the event. “Other crucial factors like India's economic emergence, 64% of population in the age group of 15-34 years and its 500 million youth influencing the global scene are going to influence fashion trends in a big way, as the purchasing power of young India is increasing and the country is expected to be the fifth largest consumer market by 2025,” Dr. Darlie Koshy told the audience. Thus democratisation of fashion is the key, he suggested.

Presenting Khadi in SMART avatar Khadi, known for its simple and traditional quality, was showcased in an all new avatar by the budding designers of ATDC-Imlikhera. A range of products, including patchwork and block print cushion covers, bedsheets with tribal prints, men’s shirts and kurtas, hand-painted ladies kurtas, etc., were displayed at the Khadi Fabric Products exhibition, organised by ATDC-Chhindwara at the new ATDC-Chhindwara Integrated Campus in Imlikhera on October 15. Mr. Mahesh Chand Choudhary, District Collector, Mr. Om Namah Shivay, Deputy Collector, Chourai and Mr. Brajesh Pandey, Assistant Commissioner, Tribal Welfare Department, inaugurated the exhibition — aimed at creating awareness about Khadi.

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Awareness Programmes

Catalysing skills in Madhya Pradesh

n its endeavour to enhance the employability of unemployed, disadvantaged and tribal youth in Madhya Pradesh, ATDC-Chhindwara, in association with the Madhya Pradesh Council of Employment and Training (MAPCET), Tribal Welfare Department, M.P., conducted an interaction meet for Scheduled Tribe candidates at Junnardeo. The tribal students at Junnardeo (480 students), Tamia (300 students) and Harrai (700 students) were informed about the Fast-Track SMART courses and State-ofthe-Art infrastructure & Factory Simulated Environment at ATDC. Nearly 200 candidates from Junnardeo, 120 from Tamia and 550 from Harrai enrolled for ATDC-SMART courses (SSO & SO-B) during the interaction meet. AWARENESS CAMPS AT IMLIKHERA With ATDC-Chhindwara shifting its base to Imlikhera in Madhya Pradesh, there has been a need to spread awareness about its courses in the area. Keeping this in mind, Ms. Banani Singh Baghel and Ms. Shahala Siddiqui, Trainers, ATDC-Chhindwara, are busy conducting interaction-cum-awareness camps in

different areas. One such camp was held at the Govt. Hr. Sec. School at Khunajhir, Imlikhera, on August 31. More than 200 candidates were given detailed information about SMART courses, curricula and state-of-the-art infrastructure available at the ATDC-Chhindwara campus. ROJGAR MELA With an aim to make the rural youth aware about vocational training programmes and job opportunities in the apparel sector, ATDC-Chhindwara participated in a Rojgar Mela, organised by the District Panchayat at Amarwara Tahsil area on September 24. Candidates approaching the ATDC stall were provided with the details of ATDC-SMART Fast-Track courses as well as given information on the forthcoming training programmes at ATDCChhindwara Integrated Campus. Out of

the 500 students registered by the District Panchayat for the Rojgar Mela, over 60 students have registered with ATDCChhindwara and ATDC Amarwara. HANDS-ON TRAINING In order to provide practical exposure in Organic Knitwear garment manufacturing to its students, ATDC-Chhindwara organised an industrial visit on October 29 and 30. Twenty-five AMT/FDT (Apparel Manufacturing & Fashion Design Technology) students visited M/s. Pratibha Syntex Pvt. Ltd. in Indore to gain first-hand knowledge at their vertically integrated organic knitwear apparel manufacturing unit. The students, led by faculty members Mr. Suresh Raidas and Mrs. Pooja Agrawal, were exposed to the technical aspects of spinning section, knitting section, dying house, printing plant, etc.

Placements

Jobs galore at ATDC-Ludhiana, Ranchi

perfect ceremony this! Students who successfully completed the SMART Operator-Advance and SMART Machine Technician courses from ATDC-Ludhiana were not only awarded certificates but also offered jobs as Sewing Machine Operators by Mr. Varun Mehra, LMC Member and MD, M/s. Nagesh Knitwears Ltd., Ludhiana. While giving away the certificates to the students on September 7, Mr. Mehra also ensured a safe and secure working environment for the students. Others present at the event included Mr. P.S.N. Murthy, Assistant Director,

Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC), Ludhiana, and Mr. Abhinav Mehra, Director, M/s. Nagesh Knitwear Ltd. PLACEMENTS AT ATDC-RANCHI ATDC-SMARTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efforts in generating gainful job opportunities for the weaker sections of the society have proved fruitful in the state of Jharkhand as well. Out of the 397 candidates placed this year from ATDC-Ranchi, 350 have been recruited by Arvind Mills Pvt. Ltd, Bangalore, through campus interviews. Thirty-seven students, trained as

shirt-making experts, have been placed with Craftage, a production unit of JharCraft, which is a Government of Jharkhand-owned Handloom and Handicraft Corporation. Technopak recruited 10 students as Senior Trainers and Assistant Trainers on a salary of `10,000 and `8,000 per month, respectively.

initiatives

Collaboration/New Centre

New Skill Camp at Kozhikode New Skill Camps n October — Kancheepuram (Tamil Nadu), Anekal (Karnataka), Kadod (Gujarat), Allahabad (U.P.), Khanpur Devali (Delhi), Geejgarh (Rajasthan), Sasaram (Bihar), Tata Nagar (Jharkhand), Raja TalabRaipur (Chhattisgarh), Anjaneya Extension (Karnataka) n November — Palam Vihar (Haryana), Sultanpur (U.P.), Kozhikode (Kerala) n December — Krishnagiri, Thiruvallur, Gummudipondi Ariyalur (Tamil Nadu) Loni –Ghaziabad, Partapgarh, Narela (UP) Butimore, Simdega, Deogarh(Jharkhand) Bashirhat, Farkka, Dhulegarh (WB), Dhule (Maharsthara)

ith a mission to impart skills to the new and existing workforce in the domestic and export apparel industry, ATDC initiated yet another SMART Peripatetic Centre/Skill Camp in Kerala — this time at the coastal city of Kozhikode. Dr. M.K. Muneer, State Minister for Social Welfare and Panchayats, inaugurated the Skill Camp at the Kozhikode Corporation building on November 24, in a function presided over by P. Khulsu, Chairperson, Kerala State Women’s Development Corporation (KSWDC). The Camp has commenced with 60 candidates in Surface Ornamentation Technique, 60 in SMART Quality Checker

and 30 in Sewing Machine Operator (Basic) courses. The candidates are sponsored by the National Minorities Development & Finance Corporation (NMDFC) through its state channelising agency KSWDC. The Department of Social Welfare, Govt of Kerala, will sponsor 500 candidates for training programmes every year through the KSWDC, Dr. Muneer announced. Khulsu assured full support to ATDC for Kozhikode Peripatetic Centre/Skill Camp. Others present at the function were Prof. A.K. Premajam, Mayor, Kozhikode Corporation and Prof. Abdul Lateef, Deputy Mayor, Kozhikode Corporation, among others.

SMART Innovations

In a move to further expand its network, ATDC inaugurated ATDCSMART Centre in Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu, recently. The Centre commenced with the first batch of 25 students on October 15. Training for the second batch began on October 27.

Assam eyes ATDC advantage With the hope of emulating ATDC success model, officials from the Assam government paid a visit to ATDC-Kolkata on September 14 and discussed the possibilities of opening up an ATDCSMART centre in the state. Mr. P.K. Chowdhury and Ms. Emily Chowdhary, Additional Chief Secretaries, Government of Assam,were taken on a tour of ATDC-Kolkata. They lauded the infrastructure and facilities and sought a proposal for opening up an ATDC-SMART centre in Assam.

Skilling mission in Bengal ATDC-Jalpaiguri and ATDCSantoshpur launched SMART courses at their respective centres on September 18. The students undergoing training at the two centres have been accorded financial support by the Directorate of Textiles, Government of West Bengal. At Jalpaiguri, over 146 candidates commenced training. At Santoshpur, the SMART Operator (Basic) and SMART Quality Checker courses were launched.

Celebrations

SMART gesture

Students on the move

ecognising its social responsibilities beyond business, Ludhianabased export house M/s. Nagesh Knitwears Pvt. Ltd. has provided nearly 25 kg of knitted fabric and woven twill tape to ATDC-SMART Ludhiana. The generous donation will be used towards imparting training to SMART candidates. This gesture goes a long way in helping ATDC-SMART Ludhiana deliver quality training.

Booster for Kancheepuram

TDC-SMART Centre, Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh, with the support of State Urban Development Agency (SUDA) and the District Urban Development Agency (DUDA) recently started transportation facility for its SMART students. The move is aimed at helping SMART students, especially women, from remote areas to commute easily to the Centre.

ATDC-Gadag and ATDC-Hubli provided a glimpse of its traditional roots by celebrating Dussehra in the form of ‘Ayudha Puja’. ‘Ayudha Puja’ is an integral part of the Navratri Festival and is also called ‘Astra Puja’.

stories to tell

ATDC-Faridabad

ATDC-Rohini

Defying all odds

Wise choice

od helps those who help themselves. This saying aptly applies to Bhanu, a 28-year-old differently-abled woman, who achieved an identity of her own, thanks to her mother-in-law who introduced her to ATDC. Bhanu got a new lease of life when she got married to a man with a similar condition. It was her mother-inlaw who turned out to be a key source of inspiration for Bhanu. Determined to make her daughterin-law self-dependent, she visited the Apparel Training & Design Centre-Faridabad and got Bhanu enrolled in the SMART Sewing Operator (Basic) course. After successfully completing the course, Bhanu got placed in M/s Pee Empro Exports in Faridabad, where her work is being appreciated by the management. Bhanu is a true ATDC success story, setting an example for other specially-abled students.

espair started looming over the lives of these young men who wanted to make it big in the apparel industry but didn't get the right opportunity. That's when ATDC knocked at their doors. Naresh Kumar, Param Veer and Deepak came across an ATDC advertisement in a newspaper and enrolled themselves in the Sewing Machine Technician course at ATDC-Rohini. Their lives were not the same after that. The three successfully completed the course and were recruited by renowned companies. While Naresh and Param got jobs in Modelama Export Pvt. Ltd., Gurgaon, as Machine Mechanics with a starting salary of `7,000, Deepak was recruited as a Service Engineer by Magnum Resources Pvt. Ltd., Noida, at a salary of `10,000 per month. ATDC has surely cast aside all the dark clouds from the lives of these three students who are now experts in their field.

ATDC-Jalpaiguri

ATDC-Jaipur

Birth of an entrepreneur

Towards foreign shores astra 2012 fair turned out to be much more than an international apparel and textiles fair for ATDC-Jaipur. Held in the Pink City of Rajasthan from November 22-25, the international fair acted as an excellent ground for introducing ATDC students to a number of foreign buyers/exporters who visited the ATDC stall. Sandra Michael and Tripti Varma, students of Apparel Manufacturing Technology (AMT) and Fashion Designing course at ATDC-Jaipur were recruited by Happy Heart Collection Pvt Ltd., a foreign export unit based in Pushkar, Rajasthan, on a salary of `25,000 per month, besides free boarding, lodging and meals. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We thank ATDC-Jaipur for helping us in selecting such efficient staff members. We are sure that both Sandra and Tripti will prove to be great assets for our company,â&#x20AC;? said Guy Pelegrin and Trudi Kleefeld, owners of Happy Heart Collection Pvt. Ltd.

lessed with an enterprising spirit and an unstoppable urge to achieve her goals, Anamika Mondal couldn't wait for long to start her own venture. Thanks to a sponsorship by the National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC), Anamika enrolled herself in the Garments Construction Techniques (GCT) course at ATDC-Jalpaiguri, West Bengal. After successfully completing the course and equipping herself with the requisite skills, Anamika procured five industrial sewing machines and started her own manufacturing unit. Bagging orders from local markets for ladies wear, home furnishings, mosquito nets, etc., Anamika was now on the road to becoming a successful entrepreneur. Although her business has done well enough to provide her with a comfortable life, Anamika is not content. With the help of the facilities provided by

Handloom and Textiles Cluster Schemes, she now wants to expand her business and employ more people in her manufacturing unit. ATDC has surely given birth to a young and passionate entrepreneur!

IN SUMMARY

Unfolding the ATDC-NYKS story What is the vision of the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) with a special focus on ‘skill development activities’ in the apparel industry?

Ms. NITA CHOWDHURY, IAS, Secretary (Youth Affairs), Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Govt. of India

In an exclusive interview, Ms. Nita Chowdhury talks about how the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) and ATDC’s collaborative partnership for the Apparel and Textiles sector can act as a model for equipping India’s youth towards gainful employment

The priority of the Government is to create more job-oriented Skill Development Training Courses for unemployed youth of the country. The National Skill Development Mission, headed by Hon’ble Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, has been entrusted with the responsibility of skilling 500 million youth by 2020. Providing skill training to youth in the apparel industry is NYKS’ top priority. NYKS intends to give a special focus to the apparel sector, keeping in view the scope as well as the increasing demand in the industry. In your view, how is the NYKS–ATDC collaboration for skill development helping the rural youth find gainful employment in the apparel sector? The pilot project initiated by NYKS, in collaboration with ATDC, in Uttar Pradesh has been successful in terms of providing gainful employment to rural youth. Following such positive results, NYKS has proposed to expand the project in other states as well. With a strong presence in different districts of the country, NYKS is confident that it will be able to create awareness among rural youth to come forward and acquire employable skills to join the apparel industry as wage-employed or self-employed. So far, what has been the experience of the pilot NYKS–ATDC project in Uttar Pradesh?

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Contact: Apparel Training & Design Centre, National Head Office Paridhan Vikas Bhawan, Plot-No. 50, Institutional Area, Sector-44, Gurgaon-122003 Phone: 0124-4659500/01 Website: www.atdcindia.co.in

Recently, NYKS, in collaboration with ATDC, started a pilot project on Skill Training in Apparel Trade for 180 candidates in two districts of Uttar Pradesh — Unnao and Barabanki. Post-training, nearly 60 trainees joined local apparel export and domestic industries in Kanpur, Unnao and Barabanki. Following the positive results in Unnao and Barabanki, the project was expanded to another six districts. Under the ongoing initiative, 720 youth are being trained in different courses. After the completion of the training, it is expected that most of the youth would benefit and avail of gainful wage-employment facilitated by ATDC or start their own ventures. The NYKS-ATDC tie-up for the Apparel and Textiles sector in Uttar Pradesh and the proposed projects in other states will act as an important model for equipping the youth for gainful employment. What is the future road-map of the NYKS–ATDC tie-up to complement and support government schemes for achieving inclusive growth on a pan–India basis? The present NYKS-ATDC pilot collaborative tie-up has been expanded in the current financial year. It now covers 68 districts in the states of Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Maharashtra, Orissa, Jharkhand, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. The aim is to provide skills training to an additional 3,600 youth through ATDC. These youth will certainly be able to get gainful employment, as envisaged. NYKS has proposed to replicate this model on pan-India basis through its network of 623 centres across the country, with a special focus on women and the disadvantaged sections of the society.

THE PILOT PROJECT INITIATED BY NYKS, IN COLLABORATION WITH ATDC, IN UTTAR PRADESH HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN TERMS OF PROVIDING GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT TO RURAL YOUTH. FOLLOWING SUCH POSITIVE RESULTS, NYKS HAS PROPOSED TO EXPAND IT IN OTHER STATES