CAREER - 3:

HUNAR SE ROZGAR:

LIFE RE-DEFINED FOR RURAL SCHOOL DROP-OUTS

BY P S SUNDAR

It was life re-defined for 10 school-drop out boys from country’s different parts who benefited from ‘Hunar Se Rozgar’ (HSR) project of Union Tourism Ministry as the doors for employment in five-star hotels opened for them on July 25, 2015.

AMARJEET KUMAR (left) & MURALIDHARAN

“These boys have undergone professional training from the executives of Taj Gateway Hotel, Coonoor, and now hold Government of India’s certificate enabling them employable in any star hotel anywhere in the country.   We gave them free training, uniform, kitchen and learning kits.  We also gave them stipend of ` 1,500 for 36 days’ course for F & B service and housekeeping  and ` 2,000 for 40 days’ course for F & B production”, Amarjeet Kumar, Faculty of Institute of Hotel Management, (IHM), Chennai, an institution under Union Tourism Ministry, told me.  

“The minimum qualification is pass in eighth standard.  There is no other stipulation even those relating to social or economic classification”, he noted.

“You need to be congratulated on two counts – for choosing the promising hospitality industry as your career and for choosing Taj group hotels – Gateway, Coonoor, and Savoy, Ooty, for your training”, I told the candidates in my Chief Guest 

address after distributing the certificates.  

“Today is not the end of your training but the beginning of your career.  Armed with certificate issued by Government of India through IHM and the knowledge shared by the experts at Taj group, you have a new vista in your life that over-rides the reality that you haven’t been successful at formal school and college education.  What is now required is professional knowledge and basic communication skill.    You have become employable in any star hotel that will re-define your rural upbringing and make you a noticeable hospitality professional. You can face the industry’s challenge with confidence honing up your skills, treating ‘work as worship’ and discharging duties with determination and dedication”, I said to the applause of all.

I made the occasion solemn with the candidates expressing their gratitude to IHM and Taj group for showing them life – the way to fish, rather than giving them a fish.

Amarjeet pleased them by announcing that they are now eligible for six months of further free training in IHM, Chennai, totally funded by Government of India to help them gain professional competence.  Education, kits, uniform and food will be free.   “All HSR completed candidates will be eligible for this”, he declared.

“We will absorb those boys who show interest to work for Taj group as in the past.   The HSR programme in our hotel has been growing strength to strength year after year”, said Gateway General Manager Muralidharan thanking the co-operation extended by his team to train these candidates.

“This is the third batch of HSR and by now, 47 such candidates have been trained by the Taj Group in Nilgiris.  Most candidates belong to SC/ST category hailing from country’s interior villages”, added Antony Gerald, HR Manager, Taj Nilgiri group, who is instrumental in managing the HSR at Savoy Hotel, Ooty, and Gateway Hotel, Coonoor.

The candidates cut a cake to mark the occasion.

Heads of departments felicitated the candidates.

Learning and Development Manager Titus conducted the deliberations.

(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)