Vodafone Idea Foundation, the CSR arm of Vodafone Idea, Tuesday said it has set up a skill training centre in Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh, which will provide dedicated employment-linked skill training to youth.

“The centre was formally inaugurated by Anurag Singh Thakur, Minister of Information & Broadcasting and Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India, in the presence of P Balaji, Chief Regulatory & Corporate Affairs Officer, VIL, Director, Vodafone Idea Foundation, who also honoured some of the initial ‘graduates’ of the programme with certificates,” an official statement said.

On this occasion, Thakur also flagged off Vodafone Idea Foundation’s ‘Jaadu Ginni Ka’ mobile van, to take forward the government’s digital literacy movement.

”I am happy to see participation from leading corporates like Vodafone Idea that have come forward to provide skill training to the youth and empower C2 – Vodafone Idea Internal C1 – Vodafone Idea External local talent,” said Thakur. “I am also happy to note that Vodafone Idea Foundation’s mobile van under the aegis of PMGDISHA will impart training on financial and digital literacy to communities in the region, which is an important life skill for all.”

In partnership with Sambhav Foundation, Vodafone Idea Foundation’s skill training centre, established in Samirpur, is equipped with computers and a retail lab for practical implementation of theoretical knowledge. The centre will provide the youth with local and relevant employment-linked skill training in IT, ITeS, and retail. Students will also be provided with face-to-face counselling, and formative and summative assessments.

“Our skill training project demonstrates a ready model that addresses the entire skills to employment cycle end-to-end, is local, low cost, and easily scalable. Similarly, to bring financial literacy awareness and drive financial inclusion in the country, our ‘Jaadu Ginni Ka’ initiative aims to provide a comprehensive financial literacy development programme,” added Balaji.

As part of the government'’s flagship programme for digital inclusion, PMGDISHA (Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan), Vodafone Idea Foundation has been driving the ‘Jaadu Ginni Ka’ programme with the support of CSC Academy and Learning Links Foundation to spread awareness on financial literacy.
The firm claimed that its programme has impacted more than 1 crore people, of which almost half of them are women, across the country.