Project Summary

The objective of this project is to provide vocational skills training to generate jobs for the rural youth.

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Region Demographics

Silwani block is located in the central Madhya Pradesh about 135 Km from the city of Bhopal, the state capital. Silwani block has a tribal population of 30%. Most tribals live in hilly and forest areas. Tribal backwardness and exploitation are prevalent. There are no urban areas or industries in the entire block; the biggest town is Silwani with a population of 15,000. Agriculture is the most important occupation of the people but 70% of the cultivated area does not have proper irrigation facilities. Majority of the tribals are small farmers with five or less acres of land that is mostly not arable. 15% of the tribals do not own land at all but depend on daily wages and collection of minor forest produce for their livelihood. Cattle-rearing is another source of income. The literacy rate of the area is about 60%. The level of literacy and education among the tribal is lower than that of the other sections of the society. The facilities for higher education are very limited. There is only one Arts College in the whole area and the faculty in the college is also very limited. Similarly the facilities for technical education are practically absent.

Our partner NGO, RDSS has been working in the area for many years to promote education of tribal children. Every year 15-25 tribal students from RDSS supported institutions pass 10th Grade. In addition, 50-60 students pass 10th Grade from the five high schools in the area. A similar number of children also complete 12th Grade every year. Due to various reasons, 60% of the tribal students discontinue their studies after middle school and 80% after 10th grade. Less than 5% of the tribal students who pass 12th grade go for a higher education. The situation of girls in tribal community is worse. Due to the traditional practices, girls do not continue education beyond primary school. Due to lack of education, they are not aware of their rights and responsibilities. So, there is a dire need to provide some employment opportunities to the literate and also semi-literate youth of the area.

Plan of Action

Accomplishments

1. Awareness campaigns conducted across 250 SHGs where women welcomed the opportunity. 
2. A 30-day program on automobile (four-wheel) driving / repair – 36 Trainees, 27 gained employed. 
3. A 45-day Masonry training program – 13 trainees, 13 gained employment. 
4. A 30-day Tailoring program for girls on cutting, stitching, and making dresses, hand bags, wallets, shopping bags etc. – 20 trainees, 12 gained employment. 
5. Life Coping Skills classes were conducted alongside the vocational skill development classes for all the 66 trainees. A training booklet was prepared for this program, and will be used as course material starting in 2011/12. Hindi/English language skills classes were also conducted for all the participants. 
6. Established a Trainee Database and collecting names of potential trainees for upcoming courses.
7. Conducted discussions with department of construction in Silwani, ITIs in Bhopal & Raisen, and Don Bosco Technical Institute regarding improvement of training programs & for placement of trainees.

Success Stories 

Rajkumar Ramcharan Namdev (2011/12): Rajkumar Namdev is 27 years old, and is from a poor family in village that is over 15 kilometers away from the block headquarters. He had graduated 10th grade and is now married with 2 children. He has one hectare of land but it is very unpredictable, limited source of income. He was very depressed because there seemed to be no hope to live a reasonable life in the society. However, RDSS transformed his life by offering the Wireman Training program in June/July 2011. After the 45-day training, he started a small electrical repair shop near his village bus stop. He even works on small house wiring contracts in near by villages. He now earns Rs. 100 to 150 per day. RDSS’s Life Coping Skills classes also helped him to communicate better with his customers. He is very grateful that he is now able to improve his family’s economic conditions because of the training he received. He is determined to expand his workshop to earn more and give good education to his children. 

Hariram Omkar (2011/12): Hariram Omkar is 17 years old and belongs to a tribal family. As the eldest son, he had to drop out of school after 8th Grade to start earning daily wages as the eldest son in his family. Earnings from daily wages were limited and unpredictable. When he was heard about the RDSS training programs, he voluntarily contacted the RDSS team and joined the Diesel Engine Repair Training Program in May 2011. After gaining enough practical knowledge about diesel engines, Hariram - with support of his father - started a multi-purpose repair shop in his village. He is now the person who repairs the diesel water pumps for people in his village. His family is very happy because of his contributions to make their lives better.

Shivhari Mehara (2010/11): Shivhari Mehara is 24 years old, and is from a poor, scheduled caste family of 6 siblings! Their family lived on daily wages of his parents. As the eldest son, he had to drop out of school after 8th Grade to start earning daily wages as well. He was a regular and a keen student at the ILP/RDSS training program and had an interest and aptitude for driving. He completed his training in October 2010 and earned his license as well. He is currently driving a loading truck earning an annual salary of Rs. 45,000. His family is overjoyed and proud of how Shivhari has become successful through the ILP-RDSS training.

Sanjay Khare (2010/11): Sanjay Khare is 24 years old, and is from a backward class family. His family owns 5 acres of land but it is not very cultivable. As he was the only boy in the family (he has 2 sisters), he could not continue his education after 10th Grade; he had to work to supplement his father’s income. He worked in his fields during the rainy season and was a daily wage earner during non-agricultural season. He completed ILP/RDSS automobile training program in January 2011. Now he works in a stable job with steady income at an Institute where he was appointed as a part-time driver and a field worker.

About our Partner NGO 

• RDSS was started in 1980 with a mission of empowering the rural masses for sustainable development through partnership.
• RDSS has the experience of working on 47 different projects ranging from education, health, income generation / vocational training, women’s development and community awareness.
• The organization has good experience in handling large scale projects successfully and is well known and respected in the local region.