Empower Pragati
Empower Pragati focuses on vocational skill training, striving to “transform lives, skill India.” The company provides young people from disadvantaged backgrounds with skill training and supports them to find secure employment or start their own business.
The Indian central and state governments fund most of the courses. In addition, Pragati runs CSR (corporate social responsibility) projects for companies and offers fee-based courses, which the students themselves pay for. Other courses are financed by employers in need of skilled labour.
From the enrollment stage itself, Pragati makes sure that candidates are serious about employment after their training. These students are provided ongoing counselling, training, and, in several projects, hostel facilities during the training period – all free of cost. In the end, they are certified by the relevant industry-led Sector Skills Council and offered options in entry-level jobs.
Pragati also runs women-only programs with modules on gender sensitivity and awareness of law and women’s rights or a course on women’s entrepreneurship.