Defence staff to get training in retail mgmt

The Indian Retail School (IRS), a unit of Images Pearl Retail Solutions, and the Directorate General Resettlement (DGR) "� an inter-service organisation directly under ministry of Defence -- have come together to chalk out a programme to train defence personnel in retail management and store operations.

The 12 week, full-time programme for persons below officers rank (PBORs), will include self study assignments, project work and practical on-the-job training.

"The objective is to make defence personnel 'retail ready' by translating their skills suitable for the retail sector. It will also provide trained manpower in retail and with DGR and corporate association, it will attract more talent ," said N K Panday, chief executive officer, IRS.

According to him, defence personnel are suited best for the industry because during their tenure they acquire various expertise virtually in all disciplines ranging from strategic planning, distribution network, human resource development, supply chain management, general administration and security, equipment and maintenance, quality control and others.

IRS is also offering recruitment assistance for the successful participants of the programme. The openings are from corporate level to regional level and also back office operations.

"The size of Indian retail at present is $300 billion. By 2010, it is slated to cross nearly $427 billion. With prominent companies like Reliance, Bharti, Future Group, ITC, RPG Spencers, and Shopper's Stop, Lifestyle, Tatas, Piramals entering in this sector huge employment will be created," added Panday .

"To combat the talent crunch in the industry, we are already in touch with the retail giants and various mall owners. Interest has been shown by organisations like Big Apple, Reliance Fresh, Pantaloon and other organisations. Bharti Wall Mart has already declared that their first preference shall be defence personnel," he said.

On how the response has been to this programme, Panday said "considering the fact that this the first time in India that the DGR has tied up with IRS to launch a series of programs on Retail Management and store operations, we have received excellent response. Both batches are full to capacity which is 25 Officers and 50 PBORs."

IRS, after consolidating the position in Delhi, is also planning to open self-operated centres in Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolkata by 2008.