GAIL (India) Limited has taken up “Kaushal, ” a programme for skill development, at Nagaram village in Mamidikuduru mandal of East Godavari district.
An explosion in its pipeline on June 27, 2014, claimed 22 lives, and since then GAIL has been trying to provide the healing touch by taking up many initiatives. As part of it, ₹ 6 crore has been spent till date, under “Kaushal,” which is part of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
GAIL established a skill development institute — GAIL Institute of Skills — in the village in 2015. IL&FS Skills Development Corporation (ISDC), which works in collaboration with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), was roped in for the purpose.
Various employable certificate courses such as Auto-cad, industrial electrician, pipe welding, instrumentation technician and other skill-oriented ones are offered at the institute. Of the 430 students who took the Auto-cad course, 70 % were given an opportunity for employment in various companies, including MNCs.
In 2017, GAIL constructed a new building and installed state-of-the- art equipment at a cost of ₹1 crore for offering courses such as industrial electrician, pipe welding, instrumentation technician with a target of employable certificate programme for 240 candidates for the financial year 2017-18.
“Our seniors have got very good placements, and we are learning welding and industrial electrical works, which are job-guaranteed programmes,” said Maddala Satya Kiran and Kunapareddy Lakshmana Sarisaikumar.
Preference to locals
C.T.S. Manikanta and M.N.H.S. Mahesh said they are acquiring not only technical skills but also soft skills.
Suresh, head of the GAIL Institute of Skills, said preference is given to youth from Nagaram, Mamidikuduru, Razole, Amalapuram and very few from Kakinada and Rajamahendravaram. He said that since 2015 they have placed around 250 to 350 students and are going to ensure placements for 200 more in this year.
Mohan Kondaiah, Deputy General Manager GAIL HR, said that the skill development programmes are necessary to achieve inclusive and sustainable growth given the favourable demographics.
