Over 6000 Northeast candidates trained for jobs by AISECT: Zonal head

The All India Society for Electronics and Computer Technology (AISECT) has been at the forefront of driving skill development, higher education, financial inclusion, e-governance, and other ICT services in semi-urban and rural areas for the past 37 years, since its inception in 1985. Business North East reached out to the Zonal Head of AISECT Indranil Mukherjee to learn more about the organization's work in the Northeast Indian region.

Excerpts of the interview are as under:

Business NorthEast: Can you give us a glimpse into AISECT's work in the Northeast?

Indranil Mukherjee: Although we established an office in 2018, we have been working with different government nodal agencies here in the Northeast. After establishing the office here, we decided that we wanted to generate employment, upskill people, and participate in all government projects wherever there is a school and people need our expertise. Overall, we have been in this business for the last 38-39 years from the 1980s and have six universities of our own. We have also set up the first skilled university of Central India, known as COPE, Global University. Apart from that, we are into professional education. We partner with government schools for vocational education from class 8 to class 12. Then we have our professional part and we are a regular part of placement. That is, we place people without any cost incurred. We are working as a very formidable partner in India with NAPS, National Apprenticeship Schemes, as well as third-party employers. We have our own website, rozgarmantra.com, which is a platform to help employers meet employees, and prospective employees. 

BNE: How many people have you trained in the Northeast to get good employment? 

Mukherjee: Over 6,000 people have been trained in the Northeast through various projects and centers, focusing on professional equipping youth for employment and women's empowerment. The region's limited job options, mainly in the government and private sectors, have made it difficult for people to venture out of the region. To address this, the organization is promoting courses that offer opportunities for both job opportunities and entrepreneurship. These courses are designed to provide individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the job market, ensuring they have the opportunity to pursue their passions and contribute to the growth of the region. The organization is committed to promoting these courses to help people overcome the challenges of a rapidly industrialized region.

 
BNE: How do people reach out to you?

Mukherjee: The company uses digital platforms like Facebook and Instagram to reach out to people, with executives throughout Northeast offices scouting for partners and students. Other advertising mediums are also used. People follow these pages and other advertising mediums. The main work of these executives is to connect with potential customers.

BNE: Are any of your schemes specifically aimed toward women entrepreneurs?

Mukherjee: The organization is working with two recognized NGOs to promote courses like beauty and wellness for female students, which are successful. They are partners of the National Skill Development Corporation and have a mandate to work with them in the Northeast. They also focus on food processing, including jam jelly, pickle making, and baking. In Tripura, they are working with municipalities and self-help groups to train women in various trades, including candle making, agarbatti making, paper blocks, and basket making. They also offer custom jewellery training for women to make a living. After the training, the organization links these women with market forces, helping them meet market forces and procure raw materials at lower prices. This is crucial for women's empowerment. Projects like working with UNICEF, which has a mandate to have 50% female students in all projects, are also being implemented. In IT, the organization is helping female students with domestic data entry operators and assisting them in finding jobs with agencies like Flipkart and Amazon. Many of these women are being placed in these agencies.

BNE: Do you help these entrepreneurs with funding?

Mukherjee: Rabindra Tagore University has an incubation unit, but funding has not yet been provided. The plan is to assist with project work and sourcing funds from banks once the unit is established, either with the government or independently. This includes preparing project reports, establishing connections with banks, and coordinating with them. Funding has not yet been provided to the individuals involved.

BNE: Can you tell us some of your prominent success stories?

Mukherjee: The success stories in the Northeast region are attributed to two principles: recruiting only from the region and sourcing all manpower from the state. This approach has resulted in many employees who have grown over the years and are now regional managers or state heads. Many students are placed in companies like Tele Performance. However, people are reluctant to move out of the region, and there are nearly 3,000 open vacant positions available with the company. If people want to move out, they can be placed across 250 established organizations in India. These success stories demonstrate the importance of recruiting from the region and sourcing manpower from the state.

BNE: Tell us about your collaboration with UNDP and UNICEF and what kind of projects you are handling with them.

Mukherjee: The organization has collaborated with UNDP in the South, UNICEF, and institutes and colleges to provide financial literacy, job-securing, and interview preparation courses for children aged 14 to 29. They have MOUs with over 50 institutions and have approached education directors to offer these courses for free. The organization also works on various CSR projects, such as Indian oil for ONGC and NTPC, and is present in various states across India. The organization has also worked with government projects, such as the Assam Skill Development Mission, NULM, Tripura's TULM, TTADC, Arunachal government, AIDAN, MSME, and a pilot project in Assam with CDAC and NASSCOM. They have trained nearly 5,000 students in 16 districts and are planning to work with many government entities, including sector skill councils, skill development missions, and governments directly in the labor department. In addition to these projects, the organization has worked with various government entities, including sector skill councils, skill development missions, and the labor department. The organization's commitment to providing free education and certificates is evident in its efforts to support the development of financial literacy and job-securing skills in the South.

BNE: What are the current projects going on? 

Mukherjee: AISECT is currently working on various projects in Nagaland, Meghalaya, AIDAN, MSME, ASDM, and Assam, focusing on residential projects in dairy farming, beekeeping, and other related fields. They have also collaborated with the Labour Department, Welfare Board, PMKVY in Meghalaya, and TTADC in Tripura. The company has already worked with municipalities and NGOs and is planning to work with one NGO for female and underprivileged students in data entry, food processing, and tailoring. This project is part of a CSR project of a reputed company, and they will be working with them. The company is committed to following a systematic approach to projects and ensuring that they are successful in their efforts.

BNE: Please let us know about the universities of AISECT.

Mukherjee: AISECT, an Indian engineering and technology company, has established several universities, including C V Raman University in Bilaspur Kota, Rabindranath Tagore University in Bhopal, CV Raman University in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh, CV Raman University in Vaishali, Patna, and AISECT University in Hazaribag, Jharkhand. The company recently opened its first skilled university, Scope Global University, which is the first in central India. These integrated universities offer undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD programs, allowing students to complete their studies within the campus.

BNE: We have learned that AISECT has some international collaborations with other universities.

Mukherjee: We are working with the Ghana government to impart skills and education to people, resulting in them acquiring knowledge and returning to India. This mutual venture has been successful so far, and we are expanding into other countries. However, we must note that these activities have statutory obligations, which can take time in the Northeast.

BNE: What are the challenges AISECT has faced?

Mukherjee: The Northeast faces challenges due to its geographical terrain and diverse tribes, languages, and cultures. To navigate this region, one must have profound knowledge of the area, tribe, language, and culture. Northeasters are open but shy, requiring extensive counseling to convince them of their job qualifications and ability to move to neighbouring states. This process can take time and patience. Despite this, people are generally accepting of immigrants, making it a challenging environment to work in. To overcome this, it is essential to be patient and understanding, as people may take time to open up and accept newcomers. Overall, the Northeast requires patience and understanding to navigate the challenges and opportunities in the region.

BNE: What are your future projects?

Mukherjee: The chairman's dream is to open a university campus in the Northeast, focusing on Corporate Social Responsibility projects with organizations like Numaligarh Refinery, ONGC, and Oil India. They plan to work with NTPC Bongaigaon and other states where they have not yet penetrated. They have already started working in Meghalaya, Garo Hills, Shillong, and Jowai, but more work is needed. Mizoram, Arunachal, and Meghalaya are the focus areas for this year. They are also extending their business in Tripura and consolidating in Assam. They are waiting for the government to develop creative projects to help people more effectively. They are also working on consolidating their business in Tripura and waiting for government-generated creative projects to help people more effectively.