SBI became first private CSR fund contributor to NSDF, partnered NSDC to support Skill India mission

New Delhi : SBI Card, NSDF and NSDC formally launched their partnership today by inaugurating the first center in their Skill Development project in the NCR region. This center will be dedicated to training the initial batch of 400 candidates in key supporting job roles in the healthcare sector – General Duty Assistant, Emergency Medical Technician (Basic) and Dialysis Technician. This initiative makes SBI Card the first private player to enter the healthcare sector with an NSDC CSR project. The second part of the project will see 600 more trainees being taught skills under retail, telecom and BFSI sectors. This multi-stakeholder project represents an investment of over INR 2 crore (contributed by SBI CARD under their CSR Budget) and nearly 3000 hours.

Commenting on this collaboration, Manish Kumar, MD and CEO of NSDC said, “CSR activities have become an important benchmark of success for corporations. CSR investment in skill training satisfies economic goals by feeding back into the economy and altruistic ones by uplifting and empowering various demographics. The Skill India Mission unifies organizations, trainers and trainees on a single platform and with every new addition, it justifies the trust all stakeholders places in the ecosystem”.

Successful healthcare sector trainings, particularly with the ‘Dialysis Technician’, require highly qualified trainers, significant training time, a higher pass rate and good quality infrastructure. 

Accordingly, the quality of the centers has been given utmost importance in structuring this project. Additional steps have also been taken to make the training a value-add proposition for students: Trainees will be given custom-designed induction kits and even a generous travel allowance to make the training center affordable and accessible. Carefully selected training partners will undertake mobilization, counseling, training and job placement of the candidates. Over a short period of intense and thorough training, students will be taught an updated curriculum developed in conjunction with the relevant industry, with modules based on modern industrial practices and procedures. The unskilled, semi-skilled and uncertified trainees will be brought up to par, and then certified in line with national standards and guidelines, by the relevant national Sector Skill Council. 

Income enhancement and participatory, inclusive social development are the primary goals of the Skill Development project. Mr. Vijay Jasuja, CEO, SBI Card said. “With our CSR initiatives, we aim to collaborate and work with various sections of the society to facilitate impactful and meaningful change. Over the last few years, we have associated with communities and institutions in various areas such as Livelihood Enhancement, Health and Education to enhance the lives of many Indian citizens. We are very pleased to partner with the Skill India Mission and look forward to contributing towards the empowerment of the community through education and skills development. It is our conviction that enabling skills development across different strata of society, geography and ability can bring about meaningful improvement in social wellness and so we are strongly committed to this program.