Bangalore, February 23, 2024: Axis Bank Foundation (ABF) has joined hands with Trust for Retailers and Retail Associates of India (TRRAIN) to train around 2,400 Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) across Kerala, Karnataka & Uttar Pradesh over a period of 3 years.
According to the officials of ABF, the partnership endeavours to create a more diverse, equal, and inclusive workforce across the retail and allied sectors by fostering dignity and pride among youth with speech and hearing impairments, locomotive disabilities, and low vision.
The programme will offer comprehensive 45 days residential training courses to equip participants with domain skills, soft skills, and work readiness courses. This project will primarily address the significant unemployment gap in the PwD community, by harnessing their potential and empowering them to secure competitive work opportunities, thus making meaningful impact in their lives, the officials said.
The project's primary objectives encompass achieving a minimum 70% employment rate post-training. The training curriculum, developed by TRRAIN, emphasizes sector-specific skills, soft skills, English language proficiency, and AI-based text-to-sign learning content, along with simulation-based learning to improve accessibility and comprehension for participants. Successful completion of the training will result in participants receiving certifications from TRRAIN, facilitating employment opportunities in various sectors such as retail, e-commerce, manufacturing, warehousing, and logistics. Additionally, post-placement support services, including counseling and job retention tracking, aim to ensure the smooth integration of participants into the workforce.
Talking about the initiative, Dhruvi Shah, CEO and Executive Trustee, Axis Bank Foundation said, “Fostering diversity and creating pathways for economic independence are at the core of our partnership with TRRAIN. Our partnership is based on the belief that no one should be left behind. The focus is not only to develop new employable skills for the Persons with Disabilities, but also to mainstream and formalize their participation in the workforce. Through this partnership, we aim to harness our collective strengths to effectively train and empower these youths by equipping them with the technical skills and confidence needed to seamlessly transition into the workforce with dignity.”
B.S Nagesh, Founder of TRRAIN said that the goal of this collaboration is to provide PwDs with the necessary skills and confidence for a smooth transition into the workforce, promoting inclusivity in the process. “Over the past 12 years, TRRAIN has been dedicated to skilling and empowering Persons with Disabilities by providing them with sustainable livelihoods. Our primary aim has been to equip them with the necessary skills to enable them to excel in jobs across retail and allied sectors. During this time, we have witnessed the remarkable performance of our beneficiaries, characterised by elevated productivity and unparalleled commitment. However, this achievement is merely a drop in the ocean, especially in a vast country like India where we have the potential to impact millions. Such transformative impact can only be realised through continued contributions. Thus, this collaboration is designed to leverage our combined capabilities in training and empowering Persons with Disabilities,” he said.
Axis Bank Foundation focuses on creating economic opportunities for small and marginal farmers as well as landless rural citizens. It implements systems to enhance income through agriculture, natural resource management, livestock, and by establishing financial and market linkages. Additionally, it offers vocational skills to unemployed youth, both able and disabled, in urban and rural India. Working with a wide network of NGO-partners, the foundation tailors programmes to meet specific community needs.
On the other hand, Trust for Retailers and Retail Associates of India (TRRAIN) is a public charitable trust that aims to catalyse a change in the retail industry, by empowering people through retail and allied sectors, creating sustainable livelihoods for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and young women from marginalised background. It was founded in 2011 by B. S. Nagesh. TRRAIN Pankh programme has opened up a new world of opportunities for more than 29,000+ Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and is on its way to becoming one of the most impactful programmes in the nation. TRRAINHer Ascent has provided retail training and employment opportunities in retail and allied sectors for young women from marginalised backgrounds. TRRAINHer Ascent has impacted the lives of 9000+ women and continues to expand and create sustainable livelihoods for many more women.
