In India, around 65% of the population is under the age of 35, with many lacking modern economic skills. Limited access to education and skills training, particularly in poorer rural and semi-urban regions, creates a disconnect between youth aspirations and employment opportunities.
ITC recognises the urgent need for boosting skilling programmes and building industry partnerships to create ongoing skilling avenues and improve employability for unskilled or semi-skilled workers in India, thus helping them secure better livelihoods and progress towards a better future.
ITC's skilling programme equips young adults from disadvantaged backgrounds with market-driven skills and vocational training to enhance their employability with in-demand competencies so that these potential job seekers are industry-ready and employable.
The skilling programme primarily offers courses in eight skills and is being implemented around ITC's factories and agribusiness catchments in 33 districts across 16 states. During enrolment, the focus is on girls and youth from the socially challenged sections of society.
ITC has also initiated vocational skilling at the community level in villages across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh by leveraging government infrastructure to set up decentralised training centres. After completing the training programmes, candidates are given support to get jobs in the market so that they can start earning a decent living and contribute to the well-being of their families.
ITC's decentralised training centres also provide opportunities to young women, including married women under 30 years of age, to acquire skills training in their own villages, instead of having to travel to nearby towns.
ITC's skilling intervention for persons with disabilities was launched in Bengaluru and subsequently expanded to Kolkata and Howrah in West Bengal. Specially-abled candidates are provided training in technical domains as well as soft skills and confidence building, after which they are also given assistance in securing jobs.
