OREANDA-NEWS. January 29, 2013. Tata Power Delhi Distribution (TPDDL) today announced the launch of its fifth vocational training (VT) centre at Wazirpur in its distribution network of North and North-West Delhi. These centres, which impart vocational training in computers, typing, tailoring, embroidery, plumbing, electrician, mobile repairing and beautician courses, etc have so far benefited over 1,800 youth from the less privileged sections of the society residing in various jhuggi jhopri (JJ) clusters in North and North-West Delhi. The new centre was inaugurated by Shatrughan Sinha, member of parliament and president of Prayas, in the presence of Hari Shankar Gupta, MLA of Wazirpur, and other dignitaries.

The VT centres, which were started in 2009, are being run in association with All India Women Conference (AIWC), DAV Society, Viklang Sahara Samiti and Prayas. TPDDL has now also joined hands with Nielsen India to introduce two new courses at the new centre in retail chain and housekeeping in order to cover a wide gamut of vocational options for the youth. The other four VT centres are located at Sultanpuri, Mangolpuri, Rohini and Kirti Nagar. There are close to 500 students currently enrolled in various programmes at the centres and over 600 more are expected to benefit from it by the end of the year. The programmes comprise 2-6 month certificate courses.

“The training centres enable the less privileged youth to generate employment for themselves and allows them to earn a living based on their chosen skill sets. I am confident that more youth from the neighbouring areas will come forward and choose from the options available to realise their dreams. The new programmes in hospitality and retail chain are designed to help the youth from these areas explore newer employment avenues in modern retail which is fast expanding footprints in India,” said Praveer Sinha, CEO and ED, TPDDL.

“Education and skill development leads to progress and growth and we at Prayas are committed towards it. We are happy to be working together with TPDDL which is known for working for the betterment of the less privileged sections of society and I am confident that this joint initiative with Prayas will go a long way towards providing employment opportunities to the youth in the neighbouring areas,” said Shatrughan Sinha.

TPDDL actively organises several other initiatives for social welfare such as health checkup camps, drug de-addiction camps and free distribution of medicines in JJ clusters in its distribution network. The company also runs 64 adult literacy centres (ALC) for illiterate women residing in the JJ clusters. It is computer-based functional literacy programme and software developed by TCS is being used for the programme. This initiative is being run in association with Virmani Educational Trust and Sahyog. About 3,000 women have become literate through this programme and currently about 1,300 women are registered at different ALCs.