Gram Tarang bags national skill development award

Gram Tarang, a social entrepreneurial outreach of city-based Centurion University, which operates in some of the most difficult terrains of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, was adjudged with the overall best performer award for 2011-12 financial year by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).

The NSDC, a not-for-profit outfit of the Union Finance Ministry, for the first time organised annual performance awards to recognize the contribution made by NSDC partners in transforming the skill landscape and help bridge the skills gap in the country.

While Odisha bagged the award as overall top performer, consultancy firm IL&FS got best corporate prize , Talent Spirit got best non-corporate award and Edubridge got best start-up award. The awards were presented on June 9 by JP Rai, executive director in the Prime Minister’s National Council on Skill Development.

 

The Jury took into account Centurion - Gram Tarang’s presence in areas within the geographies from where it operates and its impact on the local communities for naming it the winner of the award. Centurion - Gram Tarang provides training across trades like industrial sewing machine operator, fitter & machinist, welder, CNC operator other and production-related functions, as well as trades in the services sector like financial inclusion (banking correspondents) and data entry operators.

Gram Tarang exceeded its overall target for the financial year by training over 6,000 youth with a strong placement record of around 81 per cent and 75 per cent of the candidates from socially and economically challenged districts of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh respectively.

The evaluation criteria for the award was built on the basis of a scorecard, specifically prepared by consulting firm McKinsey, revolving around the scale, outcome, impact and sustainability of their operations. An independent jury decided the winners which comprised of representatives of Accenture, American India Foundation (AIF), and Michael and Susan Dell Foundation (MSDF) and other independent members. Mukti Mishra, president of Centurion University and Chairman of the social entrepreneurship outreach - Gram Tarang, conveyed his sincere gratitude to NSDC after this felicitation, said a release from the university.