Nippon Paint (India) has announced the successful completion of the first batch of its training program ‘nshakti’, an initiative to train rural women in professional wall painting. Leading architects Ponni Concessao and Oscar Concessao attended the event in Sirudhamur village to hand over the certificates, and expressed their solidarity towards this initiative.
The initiative which began on the April 9th wrapped up after two weeks of rigorous training conducted by experts from Nippon Paint’s PROceed training academy. Close to 13 women between the ages 18 to 35 underwent the training to qualify themselves to become professional wall painters.
Talking about the initiative, S Mahesh Anand, President – Nippon Paint (India) Private Limited (Decorative Division) commented, “Nippon Paint has always believed in providing quality training to empower deserving individuals. Apart from providing a chance to explore one’s artistic side, it is a good opportunity to tap into the huge skills and resource of rural women, a population deprived of necessary skill training. With this move, we hope to contribute as a brand, to the vision of Skill India 2018”.
Speaking about their association with Nippon Paint, India’s leading architect Ponni Concessao from OCI Architects said, “As liberating as it is to gain a new skill, it means next to nothing if it cannot be put into proper use. We are glad that this initiative by Nippon Paint, apart from training these women, ensures them job opportunities by providing them the right channels of employment. This initiative is a great favour to women, as it has positive implications on both a moral and business level”.
D.Raman, Trustee and Vijayakrishnan, Managing Trustee of Sirudhamur Sri Srinivasar Temple Trust have been instrumental in bringing the initiative to the village. Nippon Paint’s PROceed training academies in Chennai, Madurai and Salem, has been instrumental in training many underprivileged individuals, and now attempts to reach out to various Village Panchayats across Tamil Nadu to encourage women trainees.
