Rural Electrification Corporation (RECL), sponsored under its CSR, the training of 540 candidates belonging to SCs, STs backward classes, physically handicapped, minority, general (economically weaker) and other segments of society in longer-duration (6 months -720 hrs.) courses in production supervisor-sewing/apparel pattern making, basic course. The course was conducted by Apparel Training and Design Centre (ATDC), the largest vocational training provider in the apparel sector with over 200 ATDC centres across 23 states, 86 cities and 150 districts.

The ATDC which conducts employment linked vocational training programs to provide trained workforce to the apparel industry has since 1996 trained over 3 lakh candidates, including over 2 lakh candidates under Integrated Skill Development Scheme (ISDS) of the Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India, thus providing placement mostly in export units. More than 80 per cent of candidates are women. Over 72 per cent of the trained candidates have been gainfully employed in the apparel sector.

Speaking on the occasion Darlie O Koshy, DG&CEO, ATDC thanked RECL for reposing confidence in ATDC to implement CSR initiative of RECL. He stated that ATDCs endeavour of providing skills to the youth of disadvantaged section of society are fully supported by AEPCs over 8,000 registered exporters by gainfully employing the ATDC trained candidates in various garment factories in most apparel clusters in the country.

Koshy further stated there are numerous success stories and many ATDC trained candidates have reached the position of factory head in many garment factories. With the quality of training provided by ATDC and 3rd party Assessment and Certification by NSDC (MSD&E, GOI) nominated AMH-SSC, trained candidates are getting employment in the apparel sector not only in India but also overseas.