Hinduja Foundation Skilling Over 8 Lakh Youth in 15 States: A Ground-Level Impact

The Hinduja Foundation has reached a milestone by positively impacting over 8 lakh youth across 15 Indian states through its focused education and skilling programmes. From digital literacy and job-linked skill training to school-level interventions, the foundation has designed initiatives that directly tackle unemployment and improve access to quality education. Its reach covers both rural

I found this story worth writing about because we often hear about the gaps in our education and skills ecosystem, but not enough about solutions that are actually working. The Hinduja Foundation’s efforts prove that when resources, planning, and community engagement come together, transformation happens at scale. In a country like India, where millions of young people step into the workforce every year, such initiatives play a crucial role. It’s not just about giving out degrees or short-term certificates — it’s about giving youth a real chance to stand on their feet. And for those of us looking for hope in practical change, this example is encouraging.

Breaking Down the Impact: What the Numbers Say

Youth Empowered: Over 8 lakh young individuals reached through skilling and education
States Covered: 15 states including Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha
Focus Areas: Skill development, formal education support, life skills, digital literacy, and livelihood training
Partner Organisations: Collaborations with NSDC, government schools, and local NGOs

The Hinduja Foundation didn’t just throw money at the problem. It focused on well-structured implementation. Whether through support to village schools, local skilling centres, or women-led micro-enterprises, every effort was targeted and need-based.

Education at the School Level

A significant part of the foundation’s work starts at the school level. Through its flagship SPARSAM programme, the foundation supports children in government schools by improving classroom facilities, offering remedial coaching, and involving parents in the learning process. The focus isn’t just on academics but also on attendance, retention, and emotional well-being of students.

This is especially important in rural belts where dropout rates are high, especially among girls. By supporting both infrastructure and individual students, they’ve ensured a long-term impact rather than a short burst of success.

Skill Development That Matches Market Needs

The foundation has also focused heavily on job-linked training through partnerships with industry experts. Youth are trained in sectors like:

Retail and logistics
Hospitality
Healthcare services
IT and digital services
Electrician and mechanical trades

One of the most impressive elements is that training is not done in isolation. The foundation ensures that students are linked to job opportunities or guided towards self-employment. In some cases, the programme also helps young women start home-based businesses in tailoring, food packaging, or beauty services.

Empowering Women and Marginalised Communities

A good part of the outreach has been targeted at women, tribal youth, and first-generation learners. In remote areas where mobility is restricted, the foundation has designed mobile training units and even home-based skilling models. By keeping it local and accessible, they’ve managed to reach groups that are often left behind in traditional job schemes.

Why It Matters More Than Ever

With India’s youth population crossing 350 million, and lakhs graduating each year with little industry exposure, the need for real skill-building is more urgent than ever. Government efforts like Skill India and PMKVY are important, but they need strong backing from the private and social sector.

What makes Hinduja Foundation’s work stand out is its commitment to long-term impact rather than ticking boxes. They work with the local administration, parents, and employers — not just with students. This creates a system of support that gives young people a stronger footing in their careers.

Education and Employment Can Transform Society: Dinesh Gundu Rao Highlights the Way Forward

During a recent public address in Mangaluru, Karnataka’s Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao stressed that education and employment are two powerful tools that can shape the future of any society. He pointed out that when people are educated and have meaningful jobs, they can rise above social divisions, poverty, and other long-standing issues. His statement came while addressing students and faculty at a function organised at Srinivas University, where he also touched on the importance of knowledge-driven growth.

I felt the need to write about this because it’s rare to hear such a strong political focus on the link between education, employment and overall societal transformation. We often hear about schemes, budgets and infrastructure, but rarely is the bigger picture discussed—how these two sectors can change the life of a common person. This topic matters to all of us, especially the youth, who are navigating a fast-changing job market while also dealing with rising academic pressure. By writing about this, I hope more people start thinking seriously about how education is not just about degrees, and employment is not just about money—it’s about dignity, stability and progress.

Why Education and Employment Matter Together

Education and employment are often treated as separate issues, but in reality, they go hand-in-hand. Education gives people the ability to think, create and contribute. Employment gives them the opportunity to apply what they know, support their families, and be part of the economy. According to Dinesh Gundu Rao, these two pillars must be developed together if we want a fairer and more productive society.

He stressed that:

Lack of access to education pushes people into poverty.
Unemployment leads to frustration, crime, and brain drain.
A society that fails to create job-ready youth will always remain unequal.

This is why investing in schools, colleges, and job-oriented courses is not just a policy decision—it’s a moral responsibility.

Government’s Role in Creating Equal Opportunities

During the event, Rao mentioned that governments should focus not only on building schools and colleges but also on ensuring the quality of education. He said students from rural areas often struggle because they don’t have the same access to English-medium teaching or computer labs as those in urban areas. This kind of inequality reflects in the job market too, where rural youth get fewer chances.

He also pointed out that:

Many graduates remain unemployed or underemployed because they are not industry-ready.
There is a big gap between what is taught in classrooms and what the job market demands.
Career counselling and vocational training should start at the school level.

According to him, if we want to see real change, we need long-term thinking and serious government commitment—not just one-time policies or election promises.

Importance of Social Harmony for Progress

One of the key messages Rao delivered was about unity. He said education should be a tool to unite people and not divide them. The minister raised concern about how communalism and polarisation are slowly taking attention away from important issues like job creation and educational reform.

He added that:

When youth are unemployed, they are more vulnerable to divisive ideologies.
Education can help people develop critical thinking and tolerance.
A strong education and employment ecosystem reduces dependence on populist politics.

He urged young people to stay informed, ask questions, and focus on real-life issues rather than distractions.