http://www.merinews.com/catFull.jsp?articleID=125473
Assocham to offer 300 SC/ST girls free MBA education merinews network 28 June 2007, Thursday One more step ahead in contributing towards development of the country, ASSOCHAM will be sponsoring 300 SC/ST girl students living below poverty line free Management degrees at the Bachelors or Masters level. TO IMPLEMENT concrete steps by Indian Industry on inclusiveness for Scheduled Casts and Scheduled Tribes submitted to the Prime Minister, last year, ASSOCHAM recently decided to provide 300 girls below poverty line (BPL), free education along with boarding, lodging, clothing, books etc., at the Bachelors or MBA level. ASSOCHAM will also help them to get jobs. In a statement issued after a meeting, its President Venugopal Dhoot said, "ASSOCHAM – Rai Foundation" would be implementing the decision with immediate effect. The eligible candidates could approach ASSOCHAM on [EMAIL PROTECTED] or Rai Foundation at [EMAIL PROTECTED] ASSOCHAM has already organized ten skill development programmes for the SCs/STs at various levels and are also inching towards entrepreneurship development programmes. At the Centre created by ASSOCHAM at Kanpur, so far 200 SCs have been extended help to start their own income generating businesses, said the Chamber President. ASSOCHAM President said, last month the chamber has signed an MoU with the ANaRDe Foundation for joint initiative for SC & ST inclusive development. Under the economic development programme ASSOCHAM- ANaRDe enables poor and needy people to take up some income generation activities as per their interest and background. These institutions shall provide training to such people and link them to banks for credit and to the Government for incentive schemes, if any. The institution will also help them in the marketing of their produce. Various training programmes organized by ASSOCHAM-AnaRDe include skill upgradation training, new skill development, training dissemination of technology and its appropriate use, Entrepreneurship development training and training on forward and backward linkages, etc. ASSOCHAM-AnaRDe has helped over 7 lakhs people under its economic development programme. It may be mentioned that ASSOCHAM would be extending help to the AnaRDe Foundation which runs four huge schools (primary to higher secondary standard) in Rawalsar, Naguma, Vinjalpur and Dodhia village of Jamnagar District of Gujarat state as model schools for quality education. Programmes focusing at propagating better thinking among the children, strengthening their patriotic feelings, discussions, competitions etc. are emphasized in these schools so as to have an all-round development and produce better citizens for future. ASSOCHAM-AnaRDe also undertakes various rural development activities with the help of school teachers and children. In a report submitted to the Prime Minister last year ASSOCHAM while opposing the legislation for reservation had committed that : i. Industry will endeavour to reflect greater representation of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in its new recruitment at all levels, and expects its efforts to become visible within the next year. ii. Companies will strengthen their Human Resource systems for enhancing access and opportunity to applicants from Scheduled casts and Scheduled Tribes with equal qualifications and competence for employment. iii. Companies will be encouraged to provide for more executive positions through appointment/promotions from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. iv. ASSOCHAM will develop advocacy and information programmes for companies on employment policies for greater participation of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. ASSOCHAM Promoter Chambers Bombay Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Cochin Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Indian Merchants' Chamber, Madras Chamber of Commerce & Industry and PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry and other leading Chambers have joined ASSOCHAM in this regard, said Dhoot. He further said that ASSOCHAM shall train entrepreneurs from socially and economically backward amongst SC and ST communities at District Industry Centres in association with the local industries and corporates. The Chamber has also proposing to help establish coaching programmes in universities to lower dropout rates amongst students of Scheduled castes and Scheduled Tribes. Such programmes are currently being undertaken by institutions such as IIMs. In the first year, 10 universities will be identified for programmes covering 10,000 students with the objective of escalating to 50 cities and 50,000 students by 2009. Dhoot also said, he has constituted a special task force under the Chairmanship of former ITC Chairman K.L. Chugh and a concrete action plan shall be announced soon. -- Subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a BLANK email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
