- OPJCC’s Aparajita programme has been awarded as an innovative project that provides vocational skills training to rural women.
- The programme has successfully upgraded skills and prepared 441 women to enter the skilled labour market as competent, certified construction workers, supervisors, and contractors.
Bhubaneswar, August 21, 2015: OP Jindal Community College (OPJCC), one of the pioneering Industrial Training Centres in India, promoted by the JSPL Foundation, received the Best Institute for Women's Skills Development award from ASSOCHAM for its innovative programme on women skilling in construction and other technical fields.
On behalf of the Director of OPJCC Ms. Miriam Carter, Principal of OPJCC (Barbil) Mr. RN Mohaptra, Project Coordinator of Aparajita in Barbil, Ms. Sonu Gupta and Ms. Bani Shaw received the award from the Minister of Industries and School & Mass Education, Govt of Odisha Shri Debi Prasad Mishra today during the ‘Skilling India’ programme organised by ASSOCHAM at Bhubaneswar.
OPJCC’s Aparajita programme is an innovative project that provides vocational skills training to rural women. This programme has successfully upgraded skills and prepared 441 women to enter the skilled labour market as competent, certified construction workers, supervisors, and contractors.
OPJCC instructors live in villages for 2-3 months to teach rural women and change mindsets about the value of vocational training. Following village based training, OPJCC imparts 2 months of additional training in the college and on the construction sites for deepening the trainees' knowledge and for refining their skills. Once Aparajita participants successfully complete the training, they are encouraged to take up construction projects. Support is provided for establishing women-only construction cooperatives in SHG mode, i.e. entrepreneurial groups that undertake construction contracts inside and beyond their villages. About 82% of Aparajita Construction Trainees are now working and earning their livelihood from the skills they have acquired under OPJCC 's Aparajita programme.
While maximum number of trainees are from Punjipathra (Chhatishgarh), Barbil (Odisha) has the second highest number of participants.
“Construction is among the largest contributor to India’s GDP, employing an estimated 30 million people, about half of whom are unskilled women. OP Jindal Community College (OPJCC) started Aparajita in 2013 to promote gender equality and dignity of labor while addressing the widespread shortages of skilled workers in the building and other construction workers sector", remarked Ms. Carter. "This award from ASSOCHAM will further boost our resolve to continue improving the quality of life of more rural women and their families through vocational training,” added Ms. Carter.
About OPJCC
OP Jindal Community College (OPJCC) is a technical vocational education and training (TVET) institution, started in 2007 to reflect JSPL Chairman and Patron Mr. Naveen Jindal's commitment to educational and economic mobility for all, irrespective of age, caste, creed, gender, prior education and socio-economic status, place of birth or location. It aims to keep innovating for integrated, relevant, needs-based vocational training in construction and other sectors, and in so doing, the college creates a replicable model of technical education and training for the nation.
Currently, OPJCC has been set up in five locations in three states: Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha along with learners from over eight states throughout India. The colleges are renowned for exemplary vocational skills development, training of trainers, and preparing learners for the workforce in high-demand, high-growth technical trades.
