Three months ago, 39 tribal youths left their homes in Yavatmal to make their way to Pune, for a training programme in the city. Today, four of them are on the cusp of realising their dreams of professional success, having bagged jobs in some of the biggest malls in the city
Three months ago, Rupesh Salam was at the crossroads, preparing to leave his mother and younger sister back in his village in Yavatmal, to join a retail management course in Pune. Today, the sacrifice has paid off, as the 21-year old tribal boy has not only completed his course successfully, but is also looking forward to his stint as a fashion assistant in one the top shopping malls in Pune.
Learning curve: A government grant of Rs 5 lakh was used to train 39 tribal youths in retail management and patient care management
Around three months ago, Rupesh and 38 other tribal students from various talukas of Yavatmal came to Pune for courses in retail and patient care management. Among these 38 students, four will now fly high, after their training at the All India Institute of Local Self Government (AIILSGs) in Kothrud.
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GO-GETTERS: The tribal students from Yavatmal district have completed their course in retail management and patient care management in Pune. PICS/RENUKA SURYAVANSHI
“Few years ago, I lost my father. Since then, my mother and I worked on a farm to make ends meet,” said Rupesh, who appeared for his Std XII board exam last year. He then read an advertisement in a local newspaper saying that Pune based Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Training and Research Institute (BARTI) was conducting a workshop, in course of which tribal youths would be selected for a professional course.
He added, “I got selected and came here to join the course. Now, before starting my job, I would like to visit my family. They will be surprised at my achievements,” said Rupesh. Pawan Uike, a resident of Maregaon village in Yavatmal district, has also bagged a job as a cashier in another shopping mall in the city. “I saw the mall for the first time, and though I am feeling nervous, I would like to work here,” said 22-year-old Pawan, who also used to work on a farm before enlisting himself for the training in Pune. Another retail management student, Shubhangi Madavi, will be appearing for an interview today and is confident that she too will get an appointment as a fashion assistant in a plush city mall.
For the first time, BARTI, in collaboration with AIILSG, selected the two courses of retail and patient care management for the youngsters from the Scheduled Tribe community. “We had sent a proposal to the state government in December 2013, for the project which had an estimated cost of Rs 37 lakh. So far, we have received R5 lakh, which is sufficient for these 39 students,” said Rohan Joshi, project director of skill development. He added that the focus would be on uplifting tribal youth living in the villages of Vidarbha. Govind Namade, administrative officer of the BARTI cell of AIILSG, said that the youths mainly come from Gond, Kolam, Pardhan and Madiya communities of scheduled tribes. “Our focus was to teach them to speak in English, so that they can communicate with customers,” said Namade.
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