Two-thirds of India’s 1.2 billion population is under 35 years, making the country one of the youngest in the world from a demographic perspective. The economic benefit of having such a large working-age population is evident. However, a significant percentage of this population is unskilled or under-skilled. Skill building is therefore a key focus area for national development. The outcome of the Skill India Mission is to mould this vast human potential into productive employees and venturesome entrepreneurs.
With this in mind, Tata STRIVE – the skill development initiative of the Tata Community Initiatives Trust under the aegis of Tata Trusts – addresses the pressing need of skilling India’s youth for employment, entrepreneurship, and community enterprise.
It reaches out to communities, develops the skills of people from financially challenged backgrounds, and acclimatises them to the changing work environment. The core philosophy is to create courses that would help in creating and supplying trained manpower across the entire industrial spectrum as well as develop entrepreneurial talent.
Over the years, Tata STRIVE has churned out several success stories. Some of these are narrated below:
Anita Nayak
Anita is a mobile phone charger technician at Foxlink, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh.
“I am content with my life,” she says, something she discovered through her struggles that shaped her into the courageous young lady she is today. Through her earnings, she hopes to provide her younger siblings – a younger brother and a sister – a better life by supporting their higher education.
Her maternal grandmother was granted custody of the three children when their parents separated years ago. When Anita was 13 years old and studying in the 8th Standard, her grandmother compelled her to get married. This was a case of child marriage which Anita was dead set against. Determined to not fall prey to such a practice, she sought assistance. With her friends’ help, she contacted the helpline number 1098. As a result, Anita was placed in a childcare institution for her safety and well-being. While at the institution, she completed her Class X education. Some personnel from the government-funded ITI, Bhubaneswar, visited the institution Anita was housed in for a counselling programme. They were very impressed with her determination and desire to succeed in life. They offered her an opportunity to pursue a trade at IoT Smart City.
Full of dreams, Anita joined the ITI where she was introduced to the technical environment of the skilling ecosystem. Though it was all new for her, she was impressed with it and put all her efforts into learning IoT technology. As her trainers put it, “She was a curious student. She attended her classes regularly. She would always approach us and asked questions to clarify her doubts or seek more explanation regarding a particular point she did not understand.”
In 2021, she was ecstatic when she received her appointment letter from Rising Star, Bangalore, as it was her first-ever job opportunity.
The Tata STRIVE Bagchi Life Skills Development Programme built her confidence. She says, “it is now part of my life forever”. Her interpersonal skills developed and so did her public speaking skills, which reflected in her communication and personality. Today, Anita proudly tells her friends, especially those who think that girls cannot step out of her house and chase their dreams: “In a way, the struggles I went through were a form of training. Let this belief move you forward whenever you feel weary. These struggles will ultimately make you stronger.”
Sasmita Mohapatra
Sasmita Mohapatra works as a Zonal Change Leader at the Govt. ITI, Rourkela, in Odisha Special ITI Projects.
She facilitates employability skills to Industrial Training Institute students at the Govt. ITI, Rourkela. Being a change leader in the ITI, Sasmita ensures delivering quality training, maintaining a professional environment, and coordinating with all stakeholders for the smooth implementation of the programme.
Sasmita is gratified to be one of the change leaders of Tata STRIVE. She had been working as a freelance trainer and content developer for years. She joined this organisation for the work the Trusts does and for the opportunity to work with the team. Sasmita is an action-driven person and is always curious to learn.
Sasmita has not always had an easy time. When she was 11 years old, the 1999 Super Cyclone in Odisha left a trail of devastation and affected Jagatsinghpur, Odisha. Along with 30 others, Sasmita hid in a shed to pass the dreadful 40 hours in the small village. During that time, none of them knew if they would live to see a new day. When the cyclone eventually subsided, the aftermath revealed the devastating toll it had taken on the forests and environment of Odisha. The region suffered immense losses, and the destructive impact was evident. Tragically, the occurrence of natural calamities, in various forms, claimed numerous lives each year.
Years later, Sasmita volunteered with local NGOs and volunteer groups working on various environmental issues. She travelled to many States in India and was devastated to see many places destroyed, there was rampant felling of trees and people were undergoing various water issues. She also worked in the rural areas of Odisha on various CSR projects and realised the pain of the silent voices caused by water scarcity and heat-related illnesses. Although Sasmita had a burning desire to address these pressing issues, she did not know how to move forward and make a meaningful impact. However, her path became clear when she joined Tata STRIVE.
Today, Sasmita is well on her way to becoming an environment warrior. She has additionally co-founded and founded her volunteering group called “Climate Warriors of Rourkela”, along with some local youth. Their efforts have been ongoing with cleaning drives for “Koel River” and a campaign, “Save Koel”. Her family, too, maintains an eco-friendly lifestyle, with the use of eco-friendly products. In her own words, Sasmita says, “I believe charity begins at home. I maintain a completely eco-friendly lifestyle and motivate others to adapt to this sustainable lifestyle for a better future. Mentoring young minds for project-based learning on sustainable development goals (SDGs) makes me proud. I cherish working with Tata STRIVE, an organisation that truly makes us prosper.”
Sangita Prusty
Sangita Prusty, a trainee from Tata STRIVE’s Electronics Mechanic trade made headlines when she received an award from Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Education and Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India, at a felicitation ceremony organised by the Govt of India at New Delhi, for achieving All India Rank 1 in AITT (All India Trade Test) conducted by NCVT.
“Her journey was not an easy one and she never dreamed she would reach the never too easy to reach the stature she has achieved thus far, but her hard work, dedication, and perseverance guided her to move fearlessly towards her goal,” her trade faculty says. Ever since she visited the ITI during a study trip after completing Class X, she was determined to study there so she could then work as a technician within the vast network of the Indian Railways.
As the eldest child in a family of five, Sangita saw many struggles growing up, and today, her desire is to offer a better life to her younger siblings through her earnings.
Sangita is very proud that she is an alumnus of Govt. ITI Bhubaneswar. The 21st-century skills she gained through classes on life skills as well as domain skills had a profound impact on both her personal and professional growth. She puts it succinctly, “The two years I spent at the ITI developed my self-confidence, self-discipline, informed decision-making abilities, and effective time management skills.”
Her trainer also notes, “Sangita is a very curious girl by nature, driving her to stay one step ahead of others. Once she gets a little clarity on a subject, she eagerly delves deeper to get a more comprehensive understanding. This should be the characteristic of every student.”
Pradeep Ray
An alumnus of Govt. ITI Bhubaneswar, Pradeep completed his ITI in IoT Technician (Smart City) trade in 2021. He now works as an Operation Trainee at Jindal Steel Power. His success story is a rather unusual one.
In 2012, a young Pradeep was begging for food all alone at Bhubaneswar Railway Station. Fortunately for him, he was rescued by the Railway Police. When they questioned him about his family or any contact person, he was unable to give them any answers. They handed him over to the Child Welfare Committee of Odisha. He was then transferred to Nehru Seva Sadan – a childcare institution in Banpur, Khordha, where he grew up in a nurturing environment alongside other children facing similar circumstances.
Pradeep was always a shy person, but with an unwavering determination who refuse to quit until he has reached his goals.
He had always dreamed of returning to his family but since he was separated from them at a very tender age, he could not remember anything about them. He yearned to create his own identity in society so he could rise above the tag of a destitute orphan.
With this mindset and dedication, Pradeep completed his Matriculation in 2020 and joined the Govt. ITI Bhubaneswar to equip himself with skills that will provide a profession that will sustain him.
Today, as a skilled professional, he is grateful for the training he received at Govt. ITI Bhubaneswar. He encourages the youth to take up vocational training at ITIs and build their career, or as he puts it, “I understand the struggles young people go through, who, due to a lack of knowledge, remain directionless. By arming them with knowledge, we can make a positive impact and help change their path to a better future.”
Abhijeet Hota
Initially, Abhijeet was under the impression that Tata STRIVE programmes were like regular programmes, but when he joined, he discovered that the sessions were unique and distinctive. It was not just theoretical learning. He was able to learn various things. His confidence improved and he overcame his fear of public speaking.
Abhijeet learned valuable life skills during the programme which helped him develop skills like critical thinking, grit, decision-making, and maintaining good interpersonal relationships.
The programme has also helped Abhijeet become Abhijeet 2.0! “I have overcome many of my weaknesses and I am now more confident in the informed decisions that I have taken in my life.”