GMR Varalakshmi Foundation (GMRVF) established a vocational training Institute at Jarjangi village of Srikakulam District of Andhra Pradesh (A.P) in 2006 with the objective of imparting skill development training to poor and unemployed youth of the area and also develop entrepreneurial traits among them to enable them stand on their feet. JIRED is housed in premises kindly donated by Shri HJ Dora and family.

The Institute conducts short duration training programs for both girls and boys round the year. The trades are selected keeping in mind the local potential so that the trainees can establish their own ventures locally without migrating to towns. There are some trades where there is scope for wage employment also, but more thrust is given for self-employment. Ladies Tailoring, Bedside Attendant, T.V and VCD repairs, Mobile Phone Repairing, Taxi Driving, Two Wheeler Repairs, and Electrician Course etc. are some of the popular courses conducted by the institute.

The Institute conducts awareness camps in the locality for explaining the advantages of the skill development trainings and generates applications from eligible candidates. The candidates are selected based on set eligibility criteria and they are in the age group of 18-35 years. They should belong to poor economic background from Srikakulam or Vizianagaram Districts. Physically challenged, minorities etc. are given preference.

The institute provides free training, lodging and boarding, free study and course material and tool kits for relevant trades.

Apart from giving skills, the institute also tries to bring about a positive change in the attitude of the trainees and to transform them into responsible citizens of the society. To achieve this objective, the institute conducts regular confidence building sessions, shramdaan, yoga sessions, personality development classes, sessions on health and nutrition etc.

After completion of the training, the institute continues to follow up trainees for a period of two years and provide all necessary guidance and help in their settlement. In some cases the institute takes up with the concerned service area bank for arranging finance for setting up the unit.

Highlights

• So far the Institute has trained 672 candidates (351 male and 321 female). Out of these 548 candidates (282 male and 266 female) have been settled in their respective fields --a healthy 82% settlement.
• To cover youth of tribal communities, some training programs are targeted exclusively for ST youth.

Case Study

A New Journey Begins!
Vanapalli Kumari of Muddada village, Etcherla Mandal of Srikakulam District studied up to Intermediate. Both her parents are agricultural laborers. Because of the ill health of her father, Kumari was forced to go for work in the fields. The work used to be very tough and the earning per day was quite meager. Kumari came to know about JIRED through her uncle and applied for the training programme on Tailoring. She was selected for the training and joined the Institute. Initially she was unable to mingle with others. The faculty at JIRED took special care and tried their best to improve her confidence level. This brought about a remarkable transformation in her behavior. She learnt tailoring with utmost dedication. She started mingling with people very well and this improved her confidence. After training, she started tailoring work in her village and was earning about Rs 60/- per day. She was given opportunity to learn stitching gent’s garments through the JIRED’s skill up gradation programme. Now she is a busy tailor in the village and is earning about Rs.200/- per day. She has provided employment opportunity to two more girls in her shop. She has utilized the business tips given at JIRED and started selling items like bangles, bindies, ribbons etc. also in her shop and gets some additional income from this. There is significant change in the family’s standard of living and the parents acknowledge that JIRED has given a new life to her daughter as well to the entire family.