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Ajay Kumar Tomer
Executive Advisor, CSR & New Projects, Maruti Suzuki India Limited.
The automobile industry in the country is passing through a tough phase due to low sale volumes. But in spite of this upheaval it is among major employment generators in the country. Over 25 million direct and indirect jobs have been created in this sector the past decade, and it is expected that the industry will generate 65 million jobs by 2026.While the industry is growing it is also undergoing major transformation with increasing electronics components in cars. Such advanced automobiles require skilled workforce at the manufacturing as well as at the service workshops to provide high quality after-sales service and maintenance.
ITIs are a prominent source of procuring technical manpower for working at shop floor level. There are over 2,200 government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and around 9,800 private Industrial Training Institutes in India. “Though there has been an upgrade in the NCVT curriculum, availability of funds, adequate training equipment and trained teachers remain areas of concern”, says Ajay Kumar Tomer, Executive Advisor, CSR & New Projects, Maruti Suzuki India Limited. India’s major automobile manufacturer has taken initiative to impart skill training to create workforce in this sector. In an interaction Tomer gives information about the training being imparted in Maruti skill enhancement centres and how youth can make the best use of this. Excerpts:
Tell us about the core concept and vision behind Maruti’s skill development initiative?
The company with its interventions aims to train youth with both industry relevant skills and soft skills making them employable. Youth passing out from ITIs that have a Maruti Suzuki tie-up have found gainful employment and are preferred by the employers.
What courses are being offered under this initiative?
In 2015-16 the company started specialised courses for denting and painting skills under NCVT/SCVT curricula. In order to run these trades, contemporary Auto Body Repair (ABR) and Auto Body (Paint) practical labs were set up at ITIs in PUSA and Nizamuddin (Delhi), Dhoraji (Rajkot), Tollygunge (Kolkata), Patiala, Indore, Meerut and Hyderabad.
MSIL jointly works with the tie-up ITI to define the curriculum for the Automobile trade (MMV) students. Japan-India Institute for Manufacturing (JIM) is ISO certified and the Soft Skills curriculum is recognized by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Japan. METI also provides printed material on Japanese manufacturing practices for the students
Maruti Suzuki follows multiple formats of tie-up with ITIs for its skill development initiative. The company has partnered with 42 government ITIs for holistic development to improve governance, upgrade infrastructure and equipment, and impart soft skills to students and teachers.
The company has also set up ASECs (Automobile Skill Enhancement Centres) across 81 tie-up ITIs. These state-of-the-art centers are equipped with dedicated trainers from Maruti Suzuki, modern workshop as per industry requirement, to facilitate practical training, latest training tools, diagnostic and measuring tools, safety equipment, etc.
Which employment avenues can the students explore after completing these courses?
Students can choose to work in a manufacturing setup or dealer workshops for after sales service. Most of the students are absorbed by Maruti Suzuki dealers for their service workshops.
What are the future-plans?
The company is setting up two more JIMs. One in Uncha Majra, Haryana and the other in Gujarat. soon
JIM Uncha Majra was recently accredited by Ministry of Economy and Trade (METI), Japan. The institute is recognised by NCVT. The institute recently opened admissions for the first batch of students.
— As told to Geetu Vaid
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