Narendra Modi's call on skill development finds takers in L&T, Safex and Hettich

NEW DELHI: Prime minister Narendra Modi's call for a focus on skill development is finding a lot of takers in India Inc already. Leading companies such as L&T, Safex and Hettich have come forward to tie up with authorities in Delhi to impart skills to poor who live in the city's villages. New Delhi MP Meenakshi Lekhi on Wednesday kicked off an initiative to offer vocational training to uneducated youth in six urban villages— Joodbagh, Kherpur, Aliganj, Kotla, old and new Pilanji—that are part of her constituency. The companies will impart skills to residents of these villages free of cost.

Engineering firm L&T, for instance, will provide three-month long training for electricians, plumbers and welders at a training facility near Delhi. The persons trained will be given a certificate and could eventually be given jobs at L&T projects or helped to find other jobs.

Hettich is offering a course in modern carpentry after which the person could take up a job or even set up his own operation. Safex, on the other hand, will be evaluating people on their current abilities for employing them as drivers, delivery boys, sales support and other roles.