'My hands are full with CSR projects'

Q&A/ Vandana Luthra | VLCC

Vandana Luthra, CEO, VLCC, one of the companies which have tied up with the Women and Child Development Ministry to provide skilling and employment to women as part of corporate social responsibility, says a VLCC Foundation is on the way.

Where do you provide training for the women and how many will you train in a year?

We have an institute each for training in 20 cities. We intend to train 40 women per quarter.

How do you identify the needy persons?

The Minister for Women for Child Development Renuka Chaudhury will send some women from her constituency. About 30 have already been sent for training.

Some candidates will be identified by NGO Khushi with whom we have tied up. About 80 villages around Neemrana,which are catered to by Khushi as part of its activities, will benefit from the programme

Is there a qualification required to train as a beautician?

We teach them on the basis of what we find them good at. We have modules in Hindi and these will be translated to other languages. Our trainers also speak in regional languages. They may be illiterate, but will be able to learn some of the skills like waxing and so on.

Will these women get jobs and how long will this training programme last ?

There will be 100 per cent placement. The Government's deal is for three years.

Who are the other partners in this skilling programme?

Microsoft is providing skilling in computers, the Radisson Group is providing training for hospitality, Usha Shriram is providing training in tailoring.

Is this a part of your CSR?

Yes it is CSR. I believe in doing work that helps the people around me. Our VLCC Foundation looks after these projects.

And currently my hands are full of the CSR projects we have undertaken. We are already doing a skilling programme in partnership with the Madhya Pradesh Government, besides work we do through NGO partners Helpage, Amar Jyoti, and Khushi.