“Once I get a job in Maruti, I will spend my first salary in Goa with my friends,” says a confident Deepesh Kadhiya. This 23-year-old resident of Kadi village, Mehsana district, Gujarat is training to be a computer operator at an Industrial Training Institute (ITI) adopted by Maruti Suzuki India Ltd (MSIL).

In 2013, the passenger car maker adopted five ITIs in Becharaji, Kadi, Viramgam, Detroj and Mandal villages— all close to Suzuki’s proposed manufacturing unit in Gujarat that is expected to start operations by mid-2017. The move is expected to help meet the carmaker’s workforce requirement.

Nearly two years down the line, hundreds of youngsters like Kadhiya are undergoing crucial training that would enable them to move away from traditional rural jobs — such as cotton farming — and work in thriving industries without leaving their village.

The ITIs offer training in trades such as fitter, turner, machinist, welder and painter, besides motor, automobile, diesel and tractor mechanic.

The centre at Kadi has four classrooms and four workshops, and students attend class from 10am to 6pm. “Local as well as global companies recruit our students,” says the principal DD Lathia. It takes one year to become a full-fledged computer operator or diesel mechanic, and two for a fitter or welder.

Sunita Parmar is pursuing two courses simultaneously — BCom at the university and computer applications at the ITI. “I have learnt about HTML, Microsoft Word and PowerPoint, but not the Internet yet. Once I do, I will open my Facebook account,” says the 18-year-old.

The youngest in a family of eight, she was keen on computers because “you need to know it for any job”. Her day is hectic, with BCom classes from 7.30 to 10am and ITI training from 10am to 6pm.

Her two-storeyed house is a short walk from the ITI. A tiny staircase leads to her room on the first floor, where she keeps her prized possession — the computer her father, Hargovind Bhai Parmar, bought three years ago. Apart from revising her ITI lessons, Sunita plays chess and puzzle-based games on the desktop. She is also fond of reading books on leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.

“ Mujhe Gujarat mein hi rehna hai (I want to continue to stay in Gujarat). Nothing will be better than getting a job here in Maruti. I won’t have to leave my parents,” she says, adding with a smile, “I will give my first salary to my mother.” Her father shares her progressive mindset. “ Abhi to ye aur agey padhegi , Masters bhi hai (She will study further for a Masters),” he says. His wife works at a local factory. “ Udyog aane se hi yahaan tarrakki aayi hai (Business has brought prosperity here),” he adds.

MSIL’s parent company, Suzuki Motor recently laid the foundation stone for its new vehicle manufacturing plant in Hansalpur, Gujarat.

To be set up with an investment of ₹3,000 crore, it will have an initial annual capacity of 1.5 lakh units, and 2.5 lakh later. Two more plants are also being planned.

Kadhiya too wants a job with Maruti. “I will complete my course in another six months and then hopefully join the company.” He likes watching movies on his laptop and is active on Whatsapp and Facebook.

Student admissions at the ITIs adopted by MSIL have picked up in the past year. Becharaji admitted 128 students in 2012-13, which went up to 281 the next year.

The students have been absorbed by companies such as Hitachi, Adani group, Tata Motors, Ford, Vodafone, Ratnadip Industries, Videocon, Sadbhav Engineering Ltd, among others.

(The writer was in Gujarat at the invitation of Maruti Suzuki India Ltd)

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