Flipkart, the Indian e-commerce marketplace, has entered into an agreement with the Bihar State Skill Development Mission to help create a pool of skilled supply-chain operations talent via the Supply Chain Operations Academy (SCOA) in the state.
The initiative will be able to provide relevant industry training and knowledge, which will further help bridge the skill gap and create employment opportunities in the rapidly expanding supply chain industry in India.
An MoU has been signed by Flipkart and the Bihar State Skill Development Mission to this effect.
Launched in October 2021, SCOA’s specialised and robust training programme has been designed and created by the Flipkart team to provide a holistic experience and training to candidates.
In the first phase of this skilling initiative, students from Bihar, Delhi, Haryana, Jharkhand, Punjab, Rajasthan and West Bengal, have already undergon online training followed by the on-the-job training.
During this programme, shortlisted students got to work along with full-time supply chain employees at facilities across India. Earlier, in May, the Company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Paschim Banga Society of Skill Development (PBSSD), Technical Education, Training & Skill Development Department, Government of West Bengal to impart relevant industry training and knowledge through SCOA.
The course comprises 15 days of digital classroom training and 45 days of on-the-job apprenticeship at Flipkart’s supply chain facilities. The candidates who qualify for this apprenticeship also earn a stipend of Rs. 17,500.
Through this initiative, knowledge on various facets of the e-commerce supply chain, the roles within the supply chain, soft skills, as well as safety and compliance are imparted. It also includes a 60-day skilling initiative to empower the youth to build careers in various aspects of supply chain management and certify them to increase their employability.
The students will learn via Flipkart’s Learning Management System. The online platform for learning programmes will teach students diverse skills through courses developed by leading industry experts.
Talking of how “skill development and certification of skills are both necessary for securing employment in the formal economy”, Jivesh Kumar, labour & skill minister, Bihar government, appreciated Flipkart’s initiative and highlighted that, “Developing the necessary skill sets to enhance employability can complement the nation’s growth”.
Rajneesh Kumar, chief corporate affairs officer, Flipkart, pointed out that “India can unlock its potential through large-scale skilling and upskilling initiatives to reap the benefits of its demographic dividend. E-commerce logistics, which forms the backbone of the industry, has been a key propeller in the growth of the sector which offers a multitude of opportunities for job seekers, particularly in the supply chain”.
Over the years, the e-commerce company has trained thousands of its supply-chain employees across the country in collaboration with various government bodies.
