Credai and ATS host convocation ceremony of skill training for construction workers

Confederation of Real Estate Developer’s Associations of India (Credai) and ATS Infrastructure on Tuesday co-hosted the convocation ceremony of the first batch of skilling for construction workers at ATS sites in Greater Noida.

According to a press release, credai conducted the program at ATS Infrastructure sites in Noida, Yamuna e-way, Greater Noida and Gurgaon through its training partner Rustomjee Academy for Global Skill (RAGC). The training program was supported by PNB Housing Finance Limited (PNBHFL) under its CSR initiative.

The release said, under this program 231 trainees were trained at ATS Infrastructure sites. 82 per cent of the workers who appeared for the assessment passed. This is a part of a large Pan India initiative undertaken by Credai to skill the construction workers.

According to KPMG report for the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), the real estate and construction sector alone needs 500 lakh additional skilled manpower over the next 10 years. Given the shortage of skilled manpower in the industry on the one hand and high levels of unemployment in the country on the other, the need for focusing on skill development programs cannot be over-emphasized. It is in this background that Credai is focusing on skill development in the construction and related sectors in a big way.

Getamber Anand, President, Credai National and Chairman & MD, ATS Infrastructure said “Credai aims to build a foundation of skills that enhances quality output in the construction sector. We are thankful to PNB Housing for entrusting credai’s capabilities and partnering with us in such a benevolent initiative of skilling construction workers. We congratulate the graduates who have successfully passed the training program and hope that the training would help them in getting a better livelihood.”

Expressing his views at the convocation ceremony of the first batch of skilling construction workers, Sanjaya Gupta, MD, PNB Housing Finance Ltd said, “It is a moment of pride for us as the seeds we planted a while ago with a passion to help those who create our homes have started reaping fruits. PNB Housing has been constantly building inroads for upgrading the skills of construction workers and creating a conducive environment for them. These are some of our efforts to contribute to society at large and work towards nation-building. The success of this program has further strengthened our commitment to continuously engage with these communities towards supporting their development.”

The release said adhering to the same principles, PNB Housing has manifested sustainable CSR by strategically mapping construction workers as a key stakeholder community that significantly contributes to the mortgage industry and still continues to be at the bottom of the pyramid. Skill up-gradation, in the trade for masonry, bar bending and shuttering, are being provided with an aim to enhance their professional capabilities and improve their quality of life. Besides this, the program includes soft skill training, health and sanitation awareness, aspects of workers’ safety, etc.

Credai has so far trained more than 26k trainees across India including Mumbai, Pune, Nasik, Noida, Greater Noida, Gurgaon, Bhiwadi, Lucknow, Kolkata, Bangalore and Ahmedabad and plan to soon start in Chennai, Vizag, Vijaywada, Ghaziabad, Jaipur, Bhopal, Indore and Patna. It also plans to start skilling in a few off-site centers in states from where the labor is coming i.e. Orissa, Jharkhand, Bihar and AP. It aims to undertake to skill of 1 lakh construction workers every year.