Subhajit Das dropped out of school after Class 6 due to personal circumstances. He was often mocked and questioned about what he could achieve without completing his education. However, he was determined to prove them wrong.
There are millions of rural school dropouts in the country like Subhajit, who have the grit and determination to achieve goals but are unable to grow due to a lack of skill training. Larsen & Toubro (L&T) decided to bridge this gap in the construction sector.
Construction is the country’s second-largest employer after the agriculture sector. According to a report by Knight Frank & RICS, 71 million workers are estimated to be employed in this sector, but only 19 percent are skilled employees.
The construction industry is poised for significant growth in the coming years, underscoring the critical need for skilled labour. To meet this demand, vocational training in construction has become essential, equipping the workforce with specialised skills vital for the sector’s advancement.
Anticipating this need, L&T launched the first Construction Skills Training Institute (CSTI) in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, in 1995. This initiative aimed to develop a cadre of well-trained professionals for the construction industry. Over the past three decades, CSTI has expanded to nine operational institutes, training over 3.4 lakh workers to date.
Skilled youth trained at these CSTIs are now employed by top construction companies across the country, including L&T itself.
Creating skilled workers to boost livelihoods
One of the major goals behind this endeavour by the company is to help underprivileged rural youth become self-reliant through this training.
“Studies indicated that a substantial portion of the workforce in the construction sector was unskilled or semi-skilled. Recognising the need for a skilled workforce to undertake basic infrastructure work, L&T established the CSTI. The primary goal is to equip underprivileged youth with various construction-based skills, thereby enhancing their employability and contributing to the industry’s workforce needs,” says Mabel Abraham, Head, Corporate Social Initiatives at Larsen & Toubro Limited.
These initiatives by L&T also came at a time when the construction industry saw an influx of new technologies that increased the demand for skilled manpower. One of the objectives of this vocational training was to address this growing industry need.
The CSTIs have a meticulously designed curriculum that caters to both newcomers and the less experienced segments of the workforce, progressively enhancing their expertise across various construction trades. The courses are tailored to underprivileged individuals from marginalised backgrounds, aged 18 to 35, who have passed Class 5. Trainees are selected through a process that includes an entrance test (both written and practical) and a viva voce.
The CSTIs offer a variety of courses tailored to the construction industry — including formwork carpentry, bar bending, steel fixing, masonry (brickwork and block work), plumbing, sanitary, electrical work, scaffolding, welding, tiling, and pipe welding. They also include courses related to smart city projects, such as optical fibre cable (OFC) and CCTV Installation, solar panel installation, and metro communication.
The courses are short-term, typically lasting 200 hours over a month or 600 hours over three months. The training is 80 percent practical and 20 percent classroom-based. Trainees receive free lodging and food at the centres. L&T’s construction sites serve as a learning ground for trainees during their internships.
Niharika Malik, trainer at CSTI, Mayurbhanj for Advance Masonry says that they train students to handle life’s challenges. “We give them technical knowledge about bricks, identifying good quality cement, how to ensure safety while working and more. Besides this, we also focus on building their personality and soft skills, and making them technically strong. We equip them to handle any challenge that life may throw at them,” she adds.
‘My fortunes have turned around’
A skill training hub was inaugurated in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district by President Droupadi Murmu in her hometown in November 2023.
Spread over five acres, this skill training hub is equipped to accommodate 120 trainees, has practice yards for various trades, and a dedicated workshop for learning pipe welding. It is equipped with the latest technology to enhance the quality of learning, including simulators with AR/VR technology.
These institutes serve as gateways to employment and continuous learning opportunities.
The training provided at these centres is comprehensive, covering myriad skills required in the construction sector including masonry, carpentry, welding, and more specialised courses that align with modern infrastructural demands, such as solar panel installation, smart metre technology, and optical fibre cable (OFC) and CCTV installation and maintenance.
“Beyond classroom instruction, L&T leverages its vast construction sites to provide pivotal on-the-job learning experiences, internships, and apprenticeships. This method serves a dual purpose: it helps students apply their theoretical knowledge in real-world scenarios, and it prepares them to seamlessly transition into the workforce. The hands-on learning approach not only enhances their skills but also instils much-needed confidence among the young workforce,” says J Raguraman, Head, Construction Skills Training.
Many of the graduates, like Subhajit, are placed at L&T project sites and other big construction sites across the country.
Dev Kumar Bera has been working at a Tata Steel plant as a scaffolding supervisor for 1.5 years after undergoing training at the CSTI in Kolkata. “I’ve gained a lot of respect after enrolling in the programme. It has completely turned around our fortunes. I was able to celebrate my sister’s marriage and prove the villagers who mocked me, wrong,” he says, with an unmissable hint of pride in his voice.
These CSTIs have turned around the lives of thousands of young Indians like Dev, proving the impact of skills training. L&T is not only aiding in their personal growth but also contributing robustly to the national economy.
Here are some other skill-building initiatives of L&T:
- Skill Trainers Academy (STA): It focuses on training trainers and offers programmes in sectors like BFSI, capital goods, construction, electronics, and management and entrepreneurship.
- Project Neev: This initiative helps disabled people become self-reliant through job skill training.
- Vocational training for women: Women from low-income groups are provided with training in tailoring, beautician skills, home nursing, and food processing.
Moving forward, the engineering giant plans to expand its network of training centres to reach as many rural youth as possible. Additionally, it plans to introduce a range of courses that closely align with current industry requirements while enhancing partnerships with key stakeholders.
This article is in partnership with L&T.
Edited by Pranita Bhat
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