Through a specially constituted Placement Preparedness Team, the SEDI cluster in Rajasthan has placed 500 of its former trainees with the mantra "SEDI Buildings are closed but SEDIs are not"
Former trainee placed in 108 service call centre & another former trainee placed as a security guard
On the eve of World Youth Skills Day 2020, Ambuja Foundation's Rajasthan cluster celebrated placing 500 SEDI (Ambuja Foundation's skilling centre) ex-trainees despite the nationwide lockdown. This is the first time in SEDI history that the team managed to achieve a quantitative outcome through a series of online placement partners' meetings.
The ongoing pandemic and lockdown severely affected employment, especially among low-income groups. Many of SEDI's former students returned to their villages in difficult conditions. However, SEDI continued to help them secure fresh placements. After repeated follow-up calls, former students were encouraged to fill in Google Forms to share their employment status. The analysis found that 66% had lost their jobs, 21.5% had not received salaries since April 2020, and only 12.5% remained securely employed — meaning nearly 80% had no secure income.
SEDI took it upon itself to help these ex-trainees. A 'Placement Preparedness Team' (PPT) was formed, led by senior placement officer Manmohan Bhati and supported by six placement officers. The team reached out to placement partners, connected with HR representatives, and shared the challenges faced by ex-trainees, aiming to match them with local opportunities within Rajasthan.
With SEDI recently adapting to online teaching, the idea of organizing 'online placement partner meets' was also implemented. Unlike earlier, when SEDI organized two large annual meets, this time five smaller online meets were held within a few weeks, connecting with 67 organizations and identifying about 5,000 vacancies. The PPT then encouraged trainees to apply for these opportunities.
Former trainee placed at a hospital
This approach was a win-win: companies could hire local youth with less risk of them relocating, and trainees got better salaries and benefits. Before joining, trainees also attended a two-day workshop on health and safety norms in the COVID-19 context.
The success in placing over 500 trainees is a result of the team's dedicated efforts and guidance from senior leadership. By the end of the week, placements were expected to reach 600. SEDI has also supported ex-trainees through entrepreneurship and alternative job opportunities to help them rebuild their livelihoods.
