Assocham to provide MBA degree to 300 girls from SCs, STs

New Delhi, May 14 (UNI) The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) today launched a foundation to provide MBA degree to 300 girls from Schedule Caste (SC)/Schedule Tribe (ST), with a corpus of Rs five crore, the size of which will be increased to Rs 25 crore in a year's time.

''The foundation will provide professional courses of business management to 300 SCs&STs girl candidates through Rai Foundation absolutely free of cost, which includes fees, boarding&lodging, books and stationery and even clothing,'' Secretary General (Assocham) D S Rawat told reporters.

After these girls pass out from their business management courses, Assocham will ensure their suitable placement with its members and in case, a few candidates are left out, it will be the responsibility industry body to accommodate them in its Secretariat, Mr Rawat added.

Mr Rawat also said that in the last one year, the industry body has entered into agreements with Behrampur University of Orissa, Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, Rashra Sant Tukadoji Maharaj University, Nagpur and one at Jaipur, Rajasthan through which about 1000 students who were given coaching facilities for proficiency in English language, communication and computer skills, besides personality development.

''In addition, the Chamber imparted skill development training at its EAC Centre, Kanpur to over 700 candidates who opted for VRS in various public sector and state undertakings for redeploying as nearly 300 such candidates have already started their own small enterprises,'' Mr Rawat said He also urged the media to recommend upto 10 SCs&STs to the body, who have the minimum qualification of 12th standard with their parental income not exceeding Rs 6000 per month for professional business management courses.

''We will ensure that Rai Foundation awards them MBA degree and the Chamber assures them jobs placement,'' he said.

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