Helping them get a new lease of life

180 women have joined the vocational training programme

District Revenue Officer K. Karpagam (right) takes a look at the equipment installed for the ‘Beauty Culture and Health Care’ programme after inaugurating L&T’s Vocational Training Centre, a joint initiative with Avinashilingam Jan Shikshan Sansthan, at Seerapalayam in Coimbatore on Friday. Ajit Singh (second right), Trustee, L&T Public Charitable Trust, and T.S.K.Meenakshisundaram (third right), Chancellor, Avinashilingam Deemed University for Women, are in the picture. Photo: K. Ananthan

A Standard V dropout, Poomari Saravanan is keen to go back to class to learn a skill that will ensure her a steady income. This 33-year-old mother of two children is looking forward to augment her husband’s monthly income of Rs. 7,000. And, she is not alone in this pursuit.

As many as 180 women from the villages in Malumichampatti and Eachanari are looking to get a new lease of life in six months. They have joined the vocational training, offered free of cost, at the L&T Vocational Training Centre, that was inaugurated here on Friday by K. Karpagam, District Revenue Officer.

An ‘Uddyam’ initiative of the Larsen & Toubro Public Charitable Trust, vocational training in three areas, will be offered to these women, with Avinashilingam Jan Shikshan Sansthan (AJSS) as its knowledge partner.

The three courses are cutting, tailoring and dress making; machine embroidery; and beauty culture and healthcare.

R. Sundar, General Manager and Head, Coimbatore Central Management, L&T Limited, said since AJSS had experience in conducting such courses, it had been roped in, and instructors from the institute would handle the classes for the rural women.

The curriculum was recognised under the Modular Employable Skills, by the National Institute of Fashion Technology, and Directorate of Adult Education.

Former trainees of AJSS shared success stories of their rise from penury to successful entrepreneurship.

“AJSS has trained more than two lakh people in 28 years. This has been possible with the support of individuals and industries. It has enabled people from the lower strata to reach enviable heights. Now L&T has joined with us, we hope this association will benefit and change many lives.” V. Balasubramanian, Director of AJSS, said.

Extolling the activities coming under the umbrella of the Trust, Ajit Singh, Trustee, said that L&T, which started such activities way back in 1967 when the term CSR was not even known, was now focussing on woman and the girl child. Enthused by the success stories, he hoped that the training programme that was being launched on Friday would also result in such stories.

T.S.K. Meenakshisundaram, Chancellor of Avinashilingam University for Women, and K. Raghunandanan, Joint General Manager, Coimbatore Central Management, L&T Limited, were present during the inauguration.

On hearing the former trainees of AJSS narrate their journey that started with training programmes, women who were to start the training at the centre also hoped to set course on similar journeys. With the training being provided free of cost, some were even planning to take up a second course on completion of the first.