TKM Exchanges MoU With Automotive Skills Development Council For On-Job -Skill Development Program ‘SHIKSHA’ In Uttar Pradesh

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) today exchanged the Memorandum Understanding (MoU) with the Automotive Skills Development Council (ASDC) to launch Toyota community program through ‘SHIKSHA’, an on-the-job skill development training (OJT) program aligned with Skill India Mission. This initiative is a unique program which is a first in Uttar Pradesh and first in India, will not only help in providing employment opportunities to the youth of the country by imparting industry-relevant training focused on advanced technologies but also to ensure the availability Toyota trained manpower to meet industry requirements.

Under this partnership, TKM and ASDC will offer a 100-days OJT based skill development program which will provide selected students (diploma / graduates) with knowledge on Sales and Marketing skills, Product knowledge, Road safety and Environment. This initiative in the first year aims to covers 200 students and will see the setting up of xEV corners (electrified technologies ) focusing on self-charging hybrid electric vehicle technology at identified ASDC centres in Uttar Pradesh which will further amplify and create awareness on the electrification and advanced technologies to government as well as at rural locations upto tehsil level.

The inauguration event was graced by Dr. M. K Shanmuga Sundaram, Principal Secretary, Vocational Education & Skill Development Department along with Mr Andra Vamsi, Mission Director, Government of Uttar Pradesh in the presence of Mr V Wiseline Sigamani, General Manager, Mr Narender Kukreti, Deputy General Manager, TKM and Mr Arindam Lahiri, CEO-ASDC and other senior officials.

Speaking on the initiative Dr. M. K Shanmuga Sundaram, Principal Secretary, Vocational Education & Skill Development Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh said “This initiative by Toyota Kirloskar Motor and their dealer partners, along with ASDC, to establish 12 skill development centres across rural markets with a vision to train 200 rural youths, and make them employable, is aligned with the Government of Uttar Pradesh’s Skill India mission. We are committed to encourage and collaborate with industry partners like Toyota Kirloskar Motor to contribute towards upskilling of youth thereby enhancing employment opportunities for better livelihood.”

Expressing his views on the occasion, Mr Vikram Gulati, Country Head and Executive Vice President,  Toyota Kirloskar Motor said, “We are continuously evolving, and adapting to the changing needs and dynamics of the automobile Industry. We aspire to create a pool of advanced and qualified workforce to overcome the dearth of skilled manpower through continuous upgradation of knowledge and skill with special focus on rural students. The Toyota SHIKSHA Program in collaboration with ASDC is an important step in that direction to further strengthen and nurture rural talent and make them industry ready and employable.”

On this occasion, Mr Arindam Lahiri, CEO-ASDC said “Toyota Kirloskar Motor is always leading by example with a focus on student’s skill enhancement and making youth employable. Through this collaboration, ASDC training partners and students will get an opportunity to understand Toyota's values, safety, and advanced technologies. This collaboration would not only benefit students but also the entire industry and thereby, contributing towards Skill India. “

On this occasion, Mr V Wiseline Sigamani, General Manager, Strategic Business unit, TKM said “Toyota is known for Quality, Durability and Reliability and always strives towards providing heart touching guest experience. Towards this endeavour, it is very important that we have highly skilled manpower who are trained in the latest technologies and on hospitality etiquettes, thereby helping enhance their capabilities and making them industry ready.”

Toyota Community program through ‘SHIKSHA’ will be implemented through select ASDC training partners and Toyota dealers across the state of Uttar Pradesh. The selected students who are diploma or graduates or ITI  will receive 100 days training which include 2 days at the ASDC partner location, 8 days at the Toyota dealership and 90 days OJT training at the student’s tehsil location. This initiative is a significant step towards the company's goal of contributing to the Skill India Mission and demonstrates TKM’s ongoing commitment to address the skills gap by providing training for rural students thereby promoting skill development and enhancing job opportunities.