Flipkart Foundation recently hosted the ‘Future of Skilling in India’ conference in New Delhi to initiate an important conversation on creating an inclusive and dynamic workforce in India to improve employability and promote entrepreneurship with focus on underserved communities. Read to know how combined efforts from key stakeholders in the development sector as well as private and policy-level organizations can lead to inclusive, effective, and accessible skilling of underserved communities in India for stronger, equitable growth.
Institutionalizing the Flipkart Group’s efforts of ‘Building India Together’, the Flipkart Foundation has made strides in empowering underserved communities across India since its inception in 2022. On December 5, 2023, the Foundation organized the ‘Future of Skilling in India’ conference in New Delhi to foster a meaningful dialogue on a solution-oriented approach towards new-age skilling and entrepreneurship opportunities in the country.
Two of the core tenets of the Flipkart Foundation is to foster improved market access through entrepreneurship and skill development by joining hands with partners who work at the grassroots to enable and empower those who are marginalized, giving them novel opportunities to realize their potential.
In keeping with this mission, the ‘Future of Skilling in India’ conference brought together key stakeholders to share perspectives and boost inclusion and innovation in India’s workforce landscape.
Accentuating the Significance of Skill Development
Highlighting the virtue of driving social impact through skill development and inclusion of underserved sections, the conference kicked off with a keynote address by Dr. Gayathri Vasudevan, Executive Chairperson, LabourNet and Impact Officer at Sambhav Foundation. Shedding light on the dynamics of blue and gray-collar work, Dr. Gayathri underscored the fact that upskilling has become the need of the hour in India. She spoke at length on the critical areas of gender equality, equity and inclusivity, besides stressing the integration of eco-friendly alternatives and sustainability in our learning systems.
The keynote address was followed by a panel discussion on the ‘Opportunities and Challenges for Future of Skilling and Entrepreneurship’ moderated by Mr. Joel Fernandez, Chief of Partnerships & Strategy, TeamLease Education Foundation. Expounding the various facets of skill development, the discussion included:
- Mr. Rajiv Sharma, Founder and Chairman at Empower Group of Companies and Empower Pragati
- Mr. Rajan Bahadur, CEO – Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council of India (THSC)
- Mr. Prashant Sinha, Executive Director at PwC
- Mr. Aakash Sethi, Founder and CEO at Quest Alliance
A few strategic elements of the discussion at Flipkart Foundation’s skilling conference included:
- Challenges of prioritizing immediate job placement over the value of skill development
- Importance of investing in resources for the future
- Changing job roles in technology-driven environments
- Need for improved training and technology adoption
- Recognizing localized trends and addressing the misalignment between aspirations and available opportunities
Following the panel discussion, Mr. Parul Soni, Founder and Global Managing Partner of Thinkthrough Consulting, Founder and Secretary General of the Association of Business Women in Commerce & Industry (ABWCI) moderated a fireside chat on ‘Making Skilling Inclusive, Effective, and Accessible’.
This discussion, which saw speakers like Ms. Tinni Sawhney, Chief Executive Officer, Aga Khan Foundation India and Kanta Singh, Deputy Country Representative, UN Women India, explored the opportunities and challenges faced by women in the workforce. From challenges faced by women to acquire senior leadership positions to the need for more quality training at workplaces, the conversation highlighted multiple nuances.
Flipkart Foundation’s ‘Future of Skilling in India’ conference brought the ground level perspective first-hand with Ashika Tiwari, a participant beneficiary of the skilling program, sharing her transformation journey in collaboration with Pratham InfoTech Foundation. From earning Rs. 1,000 through tuition classes to working as a corporate sector employee, her story serves as inspiration, exemplifying the impact the intervention has made in her life.
The conference also witnessed an exquisite display of handmade and sustainable products developed by the NGO partners.
Sharing his views on the discussions that unfolded, Mr. Rajneesh Kumar, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Flipkart Group, said, “In this gathering of diverse voices and perspectives, we recognize the strength that lies in our collective efforts. It’s heartening to witness the commitment of speakers who are actively contributing to positive change through their varied experiences and insights. We extend our gratitude to each participant for their valuable contributions to this dialogue. It is through the collaborative spirit and shared wisdom present in this room that we can truly address the complex challenges our societies face today.”
Bolstering Self-Reliance: Flipkart Foundation’s Impact in Scripting a Brighter Tomorrow
Flipkart Foundation’s interventions with NGO partners focus on capacity-building training and imparting employability skills to underserved sections of society. Programs like Digital Literacy and 21st Century Skills for Employability initiated by Pratham InfoTech Foundation with support from the Flipkart Foundation aim to bridge the digital divide in India that keeps youth from urban slums away from securing opportunities in modern workplaces.
The experiential, hands-on training for PwDs (People with Disabilities) by Mitti Social Initiatives Foundation in conjunction with the Flipkart Foundation addresses the stigma, discrimination and skill gap that often come in the way of PwDs earning a dignified livelihood. The Foundation’s collaboration with the All India Artisans and Craftworkers Welfare Association (AIACA) also works to reskill rural women artisans, focusing on revitalizing traditional handicrafts and promoting micro and nano social enterprises.
By joining hands with various on-ground partners, the Flipkart Foundation aims to promote sustainability and drive inclusion and innovation across the country. A digital compendium of impact stories unveiled at the event further highlighted how industry-specific skill training programs and hands-on learning experiences facilitate holistic growth.
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