28
Sakwar is a tribal region located in the Thane
District, Maharashtra. Ramakrishna Mission, an NGO
working in the region, is involved in the rehabilitation of
the tribal population and in this capacity provides medical
aid, primary education, progressive cultivation and trade
courses like Electric Wireman, Carpentry and Tailoring.
Carts for Rag pickers: Quality of work for over 3000
SWACH- [a cooperative of Recycling Agents (Waste
Pickers)] workers improved through innovative
designing of waste collecting carts by the
The first team from Tata Motors visited Sakwar in
September 2002 to do a feasibility study and accordingly
design a training module. This team assessed that since
Sakwar falls on the Mumbai-Ahemdabad Highway, there is
ample scope for setting up repair and maintenance shops
for the enroute traffic. Therefore, Mechanic Motor Vehicle
(MMV) Trade Course was to gear youth from in and around
the region to capitalize on the available opportunity in
order to improve their resource base. The training course
was developed and implemented in a phased manner. It
includes both theoretical inputs to students, practical
training at our dealerships and a week-long assessment at
the Pune Training Division, alongwith other apprentices.
Engineering Research Centre of Tata Motors.
Six batches of students have successfully
completed their training in MMV Trade Course since
2003-04. While most students are absorbed by our
dealers and TASSs, 13 have opened their own garage and
repair shops, thereby becoming entrepreneurs. Average
turnover of these garages has exceeded Rs. 50,000p.m.
in some cases.
Water Harvesting project undertaken by the
In our attempt to regularly upgrade the quality of
skill training imparted, additional faculty was added. The
Company has also arranged for soft skills training in
English and Computers for these students since 2006, as
per the recommendation of our leading dealers. Attempts
are also being made to involve actively PCBU dealerships
as well and 2010-11 batches would have their hands-on
training in leading PCBU dealerships also.
Sakwar project has been successful owing to the
unrelenting commitment of our employee volunteers, who
not only take guest lectures on technical aspects but also
mentor these students. With the upgradation of
infrastructure facilities (expansion of the workshop for
practical training), the Company targets to increase the
intake of students for the course.
29
SWACH is a body that organizes women from the
unorganized sector to form co-operative and
provide livelihood opportunities to the members.
The members’ belong to scheduled castes. This
body is a recognized entity by Pune Municipal
Corporation and Pimpri –Chinchwad Municipal
Corporation.
Encouraging Employment: As part of the Rain
Company at Jamshedpur, covered under Micro
Economical Social Organization (MESO), a central
government
aided
programme
meant
for
socio-economic upliftment of SC/ST population, 2
new ponds were added to the existing 10 ponds
during the year. Total work generated in the project
this year was 2000 man days, benefiting 52 tribal
families.
Vocational Training: 58 SC/ST youth trained in
computers and mushroom cultivation, of which 44
were women belonging to scheduled tribes during
summer. Of these, 3 women found employment as
computer teachers and as computer operator after
having received computer training organised by the
Company at Jamshedpur.