Tata Motors Small Car plant at Singur (West Bengal) today crossed yet another milestone with the issuance of appointment letters to 17 youth from Singur villages. They received their appointment letters in the plant premises.

This first batch consists of the 17 Industrial Training Institute (ITI)-educated youth, who had been selected for a 6-month training at Tata Motors Jamshedpur plant since March 2007. At the end of the training, they took practical and theoretical tests and interviews, following which they were found to be suitable for employment at the plant.

They have been trained in Basic Fitting, Welding, MMV (Mechanic Motor Vehicle), Machine Shop, CNC (Computerised Numerically Controlled) Machines, Electrical, Electronics and Tool & Die Making. Their skill upgradation will continue at the Jamshedpur plant and subsequently at Singur.

302 others under training

Like this first batch, another group of 302 individuals, all from Singur villages, are now undergoing either a 6-month or a 9-month training programme since May 2007, at the ITI Howrah Homes, ITI Hooghly, ATI Dasnagar and the Ramakrishna Shilpa Mandir,

Howrah. After completing their respective programme, they will undertake a trade test to be conducted by the West Bengal Government's Department of Technical Education & Training (DTET). The successful candidates will then undergo 15 months' hands-on training at Tata Motors facilities to make them multi-skilled. On successful completion of this 15-month programme, the trainees will take the trade tests to qualify for trade certificates issued by the National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT) and will become eligible for employment at the Singur plant and vendor facilities.

Another 101 to start training

Yet another batch of 101 youth, also from Singur villages, is now being inducted for a 9-month training course. They will be trained at different ITIs. Like the current batch of 302 trainees, on completion of the training programme, these 101 youth too will appear for a trade test. The successful candidates will then undergo 15-month training at Tata Motors facilities. On successful completion of this 15-month programme, these trainees too will take the trade tests to qualify for trade certificates issued by the National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT) and will become eligible for employment at the Singur plant and vendor facilities.

This initiative is part of Tata Motors' comprehensive community development programme for Singur, in line with the company's practices in other locations. The programme includes: a) training, according to an individual's educational qualifications and skill, to improve their employability; b) training women for employability - through facilitation of cooperative societies - to produce a diverse range of items, which could be used in the Tata Motors plant or the vendor plants; and c) social development in the Singur area, through community centres, and support for primary health, primary/secondary education and adult education.