The Tamil Nadu PudhuVazhvu Project aims to reduce poverty through skills training and job placement. It operates in 25 districts targeting 9.8 lakh poor households and 5 million poor individuals. The project identifies the poor through community participation. It forms Village Poverty Reduction Committees to plan and oversee the project. Over 1.6 lakh youth have been trained in various skills like driving, garments making, and computer skills. More than 1.27 lakh youth have been placed in jobs, generating Rs. 635 million in monthly incomes. The project partners with industries and institutions to provide training and arrange jobs. Success stories highlight how skills training has empowered individuals from poor families to secure employment

1. Tamil Nadu PudhuVazhvu Project (New Life) Tamilnadu Empowerment & Poverty Reduction Project

2. Project Coverage 25 Districts 120 Backward Blocks 9.8 lakh poor households 5 million poor Population

4. Wealth rankingPowerful & transparent tool to identify the poorest & excluded members. Wide acceptance & high credibility

5. Target Group In each Panchayat… 15- 20 Representatives from SC, ST, differently abled, vulnerable, tribal, youth, etc Selects Secretary and Treasurer Plans, Implements and monitors the project Village Poverty Reduction Committee (VPRC)

6. Youth Data Base

7. Youth Skill Training & Placement - Twin Approaches Skill Trainings through Institutions Trainings are organized through reputed industries / institutions and employment arranged Job Fairs Conducted the district / block/ cluster level inviting major companies & industries

8. Strategies adopted for Awareness creation and mobilization Sensitizing VPRC members - community institutions Organizing youth festivals & Exhibitions Preparation of Youth Data Base based Individual Need Assessment Identification and sensitization of CP (jobs) Preparation & distribution of IEC Material

9. Strategies adopted for Awareness creation and mobilization (Contd) Screening of short video film in villages Exposure visits to Youth & Parents Display of various training & placement opportunities Display of details of successfully employed candidates Counseling of youth and Parents in village Counseling team in the companies training / institutions

10. Focused Strategy for Differentially abled, Vulnerable and Tribal youth Need based training and placement at local level Organizing separate job fairs at local level Differently abled Cell phone servicing, computer based trainings, etc Vulnerable Garments making, Gardening, Housekeeping, Hospitality Management, tailoring, etc Tribal Construction skills, driving, JCB operation etc

11. Monitoring Mechanism VPRC selects candidate based on the interest candidate,, monitors and make payment to institutes. VPRC prepare & submits monthly progress report to District Unit. Social Audit Committee certifies the fund utilization Fund utilization is also audited by auditors

12. Achievement in Youth Skill Training & Placement ( 30th July’11 ) Total no. of youth covered - 1,61,881 No. of youth completed training – 1,51,318 No. of youth gainfully employed – 1,27,290 (84%) Trade wise achievement Light & Heavy vehicle operation - 55386 Garments Making - 36049 Computer Skills - 17754 Industrial Mechanism - 8113 Medical Application - 7575 Construction Skills - 6993 Cell Phone Production - 5729 Leather Products - 4808 Other Trainings - 19474

13. Trade wise achievement & Income Generation (July 11’) Rs.635 million per month (1.27 lakh youth @ Rs.5000 per month

14. Some of the Major Partners

15. Success stories Fork Lift Operation in St. Gobain Name of the Youth : G. Arul Sakthi, Age : 21. Name of the Panchayat : Devanendal, T V Malai Dt. I have studied up to 10th std and come from a very poor family. I was unable to continue my studies due to poverty. In these circumstances I was selected by Vazhndhukaattuvom project and sent for two months training in fork lift operation to TVS company. After completion of training I am employed in St. Gobain Glass India Ltdin Chennai. Now I am earning Rs. 8000/-per month. My family is extremely happy

16. I am Vinodini, aged 26 years from Thiruvarur district. Our family belongs to Very Poor category. I have studied till 12th standard. When our family in crisis, I came to know through VPRC that youth are provided with skill training in the reputed institutions. I attended Job Fair and got appointment in Nokia. I am working in Nokia Company and earning about Rs.5,500/-. My heart felt thanks to PudhuVaazhu Project for empowering me on both in economic and social aspects. I am recognized by the community. What more I need ……. Success stories…. Contd..

17. Success stories…. Contd.. I am Gowri, aged 23 years from Vellore District. We belong to Very poor category. Before the intervention of PudhuVaazhu Project, I was working as a Coolie. Through the Village Poverty Reduction Committee (VPRC) in our district I was trained in Foxconn (an MNC - cell phone spare parts production company) and got opportunity to work there itself. Now I am earning about Rs.5,500/- per month including transportation facility. This training has helped me to enhance my monthly income. Thanks to PudhuVaazhu Project.

18. I am Karthik, belong to poor category in Ramnad District. Due to my family situation I could not continue my higher studies. When the situation gets worse, I came to know about the job fair conducted by the Mathur VPRC. Through the job fair I have got selected and trained in ETA (Plumbing) . Now I am working in a private company in Saudi Arabia with the pay of Rs.12,000/-. As a son, today I am able to fulfill the needs of my family & proud of it. I sincerely thank PudhuVaazhu Project for my career growth. Success stories…. Contd..

19. Limitations Lack of need assessment Migration Loss of income during training Lack of fund Converging resources of various agencies Lack of quality training institutes Confined with particular trades

20. Thank U M. Sakrapani State Livelihoods (Skill Training) Specialist sakrapani@yahoo.com