Sun Group to Open 50 Skill Development Centres in Punjab

Wed, May 21, 2014 at 5:14 PM
Sunfert gives away prizes to lucky draw winning farmers 

Ludhiana, May 21, 2014: (Punjab Screen Bureau):
India’s leading international trading and consultancy organization, the Sun Group today announced that it would be opening 50 skill development centres in the state of Punjab through its NGO, Sun Foundation. In addition to these centers, the Sun Group will also be opening agriculture centers in collaboration with Markfed. 

The initiative was announced at a function held at Guru Nanak Dev Bhawan here today to give away prizes to farmers under a lucky draw scheme of Sunfert for Punjab farmers.
The group had through Sunfert International Pvt. Ltd. recently introduced a lucky draw scheme for the farmers, which provides for lucky draw coupons in DAP bags. Diammonium phosphate (DAP) is the world's most widely used phosphorus (P) fertilizer.
Sunfert International in collaboration with Markfed are supplying premium quality of DAP “Sunfert” to cooperative societies in Punjab so as to promote the use of DAP. The prizes included a tractor as the first prize which was won by Malwinder Singh of Moga district, while second, third and fourth prizes were a motorcycle, five LED televisions and 50 mobile phones respectively.  
Mr. Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Punjab Finance Minister was the Chief Guest on the occasion while Mr. Karamjeet Singh Sra, Managing Director, Markfed was the Guest of Honour.

Announcing the Skill Development Campaign in Punjab, Mr. Vikramjit Singh Sahney, Chairman Sunfert, a Padma Shri awardee, while speaking on the occasion said, “Launching a Skill Development Campaign is our humble initiative. India is expected to be home to a skilled workforce of 500 million by 2022. About 12 million persons are expected to join the workforce every year. These individuals need to be adequately skilled. Various steps are being taken towards meeting the above objectives by government and many organizations.”

He added while one centre was today finalized in Ludhiana, another 49 would be set up in other parts of the state till next year which would offer 20 courses mainly to enable girls from poor families to be financially independent. Mr. Sahney also announced opening of agriculture extension centers in collaboration with Markfed.

Mr. Vikramjit Singh Sahney is Honorary Consul of the Republic of South Africa for Northern India. Mr. Sahney is also the Chairman of Sun Foundation, a charitable organisation for empowering destitute women, differently abled youth and other weaker section of society.

He informed that the initiative through this campaign will focus on underprivileged sections of society thereby enabling a move out of poverty, and similarly focus significantly on the unorganized or informal sector workforce. The Sun Group will empower all individuals through skill and knowledge to gain access to descent employment by enabling support systems such as quality assurance, information systems and train the trainer through its Surya Kiran Centres in various districts of Punjab. The aim is to fulfill the growing need in India for skilled manpower across sectors and narrow the existing gap between the demand and supply of skills.

Mr. Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Punjab Finance Minister while speaking on the occasion stressed youth on need for skill development for youth in Punjab, adding that the government would give full support to Sun Group for opening of such centers in the state.

The Sun Group has set up more than 50 Skill Development Centers in other parts of the country, of which about 12 Centres and two De-addiction centres are running in Punjab which impart free training and are  empowering over 3000 beneficiaries annually through projects such as ‘Surya Kiran’ where vocational training and skill development are imparted to women and girls to empower them for sustainable livelihood, ‘Taare Zameen Par’ vocational training institute for differently abled children, ‘Save the Girl Child’ campaign to raise strong concern about exacerbating sex discrimination and female foeticide and ‘Angels of Sun’ which aims at providing financial support to needy children for their Care and Development.