FE : A briefing on cold facts : Oct 7,2007

A briefing on cold facts
 Voltas helps a group of young men from Assam develop technical skills
 Sulekha Nair

G REEN hilly slopes populated with tea plants was a sight that 27-year-old
Amarjyoti Buraghosain looked forward to everyday. For it was in Assam's tea
gardens that he earned his livelihood as a supervisor. The salary was
meagre, but there were not many choices of a job in Margharita, a small town
in Assam, where Buraghosain lived. So he was happy. That was until he saw an
advertisement in the newspapers for free training in air-conditioning and
refrigeration in distant Mumbai. "The training was being sponsored by
Voltas, and I decided to give it a try." Buraghosain cleared the interview
and was selected for the course. Now, dressed in a blue uniform in the
technical school at Lower Parel, he is pleased with the change in
surroundings. "I am learning a technical skill," he says, which will enable
him to conjure up a life beyond the tea plantations back home.
Along with Buraghosain are 10 other young men from Assam in Mumbai, training
at the Voltas' programme. The boys look part diffident, part relieved to be
learning a technical skill. Not yet fluent with either Hindi or English,
they smile when questions are put forth. "I miss home," says shy Pankaj
Bhuyan. Food is not much of a problem, he says. "But the faces are all so
unfamiliar. Not many Assamese faces to be seen in Mumbai, and so we prefer
each other's company."
These young men from Assam are paid a stipend of Rs 6,000 besides being
given free boarding. This initiative of Voltas is part of its corporate
sustainability spirit and aims to provide a source of livelihood. In fact it
has its roots in The Tata Group, which has business interests in Assam. "Our
programme for the youth is in keeping with The Tata Group's initiative of
creating 'employability' among the youth of Assam. The Tatas have
short-listed around 100 youth and they have been split up for training in
various Tata companies," says Anil Gole, VP, HR and head, corporate
sustainability, Voltas. Of these 11 have been sent to Voltas to be trained
at the Joseph Cardijn Technical School, Dadar, with whom Voltas has a
tie-up. On completing the course, the company will explore the possibility
of providing them employment with their dealers, adds Gole.
For the boys, Mumbai is a 'dream come true' and intimidating as well.
Bhuyan, who has appeared for his final year B.Sc exams in Assam, says:
"Mumbai is a big city and a far cry from our small homes in our village in
Margharita. Over there we know everyone and everyone knows us. But in this
big city, we can easily get lost. Since our boarding and lodging, besides
our training is being taken care of by Voltas, we don't have to worry about
where to stay and other sundry details. But Mumbai is very expensive."
Sitting on the work benches in the classroom, the only confident and smiling
boy in the group, 23-year-old Mukesh Singh, says this city does not
'enthral' him. "You know I have seen other cities. Delhi, for instance. So
Mumbai does not really come as a shock or surprise either." Singh, who is
also a final year B.Sc. student, decided to join an MCA course in Delhi on
completing his graduation, but decided to take up the training in Mumbai.
Education vs job? He laughs. "Yes, it certainly was not too difficult to
choose between the two. I would have to scour afresh for a job even after my
MCA, while after this training, I am sure to get a job here. It secures my
future immediately," he says.
Voltas provides the equipment to teach the course and a retired employee
teaches and trains the boys. Providing a job for the boys is not a matter of
concern, for the principal John Almeida. "The demand for mechanics far
outstrips the supply. I find these boys very dedicated and am sure they will
be absorbed anywhere on completion of the course."
For the lanky, quiet, 23-year-old Babul Das, who hails from Guwahati, it
will be a dream come true to get a job in Mumbai. "This is a big city. There
is so much scope for getting work here than in Assam, though I come from a
city," he hastens to add.
It must be goodbye to Assam for a long time now. Laughs Mishra, "if we get a
good job here, it sure is." It won't be difficult, then, settling down in a
big city like Mumbai. "Of course not. It is not even cold here like back
home," he points out.

Publication : Financial Express; Section : Corporate Citizen; Pg : 4; Date :
7/10/07
URL :
http://70.86.150.130/financialexpress/ArticleText.aspx?article=07_10_2007_004_002