Balmer Lawrie , IATA and Trade-Wings join hands to empower women
 

Girl trainees to be paid a monthly stipend of Rs.3,000
 

 Balmer Lawrie & Co. Ltd., a Mini Ratna Category-1 Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, GOI, in collaboration with IATA Training & Development Institute (training wing of the International Air Transport Association an international industry trade group of airlines headquartered at Montreal in Quebec, Canada) and Trade-Wings Institute of Management (pioneers in imparting training in Travel & Tourism in India) today launched a noteworthy CSR initiative in Kolkata. Balmer Lawrie has decided to impart a three month training in travel & tourism to 100 girls from economically weaker sections across India, during the year 2011-12. The objective is to improve employability of the girl students. This is the first time that IATA is associating with a PSU in such a CSR initiative.

The three month training programme will be conducted at the IATA approved training centres of Tradewings in four metro cities of Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai. After completion of the course, successful candidates will be eligible for dual diploma - Diploma in Travel & Tourism Management to be awarded by Tradewings Institute. Further, the successful candidates will be eligible to appear for IATA’s Foundation Course examination held on quarterly basis. IATA/UFTAA Foundation Course Diploma is globally acceptable for employment in Travel & Tourism Industry.  The candidates will also have an option to join any organization including Balmer Lawrie which has a significant presence in travel & tourism with 22 branches in the country.

The programme was inaugurated by Mr. S K Mukherjee, Chairman & Managing Director of Balmer Lawrie in the presence Senior Officials of Balmer Lawrie, IATA , Trade-Wings and other companies in travel & tourism industry. The programme will subsequently commence in Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai in the 2nd/3rd week of December.

The entire training cost amounting to Rs.25 lakh will be borne by Balmer Lawrie. Additionally, each of the trainees will also be given a stipend of Rs.3,000 per month for 3 months. IATA and Trade wings have offered substantial discount in the course fee and all possible assistance to make the programme a success.

Balmer Lawrie & CSR

Balmer Lawrie & Co. Ltd. undertakes various CSR Programmes/Projects under its two Flagship Schemes - Balmer Lawrie Initiative for Self Sustenance (BLISS) and Samaj Mein Balmer Lawrie (SAMBAL). While the first Scheme is directed at providing & improving the long term economic sustenance of the underprivileged, the second Scheme aims at improving the living standards of populations in and around the Company’s work-centers. In pursuance of this the Company has undertaken several community development projects, partnering with various NGOs with a focus to trigger development at micro-community level and thereby generate the desired developmental impact. The focus areas for the Schemes amongst others, have been education, healthcare, sanitation, shelter, integrated village development, employment generation, vocational training leading to employability, livelihood, rehabilitation of the destitute, disaster mitigation, and environmental protection.

Vocational training & skill development towards greater employability of women is an identified focus area for the Company under the BLISS programme. Apart from the scheme for girls, this year  the Company has also launched a Scholarship Scheme for the students belonging to the SC/ST/Physically Challenged  categories for pursuing Degree & Diploma Courses in Engineering. The Scholarship will be given to 100 students from 4 regions, who are pursuing 1st/2nd  Year Degree or Diploma Courses in any Government or Private Engineering Colleges/Polytechnics, which are approved by the competent authorities. Rs.40,000  per annum for Degree Courses and Rs.30,000 per annum for Diploma Courses will be given for the entire tenure of the course to each of the selected students.

The Company will be spending around Rs.3 crores (around 2.5% of PAT) during the financial year 2011-2012 on various CSR Programmes/ Projects (including the above two schemes) in and around the Company’s work centres/business operations in India.