Flipkart to upskill youth in collaboration with PBSSD and West Bengal government

Flipkart, the Indian e-commerce company, has 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 to help create a pool of skilled supply chain operations talent in the state.

Sawrup Kumar Paul, project director, PBSSD, Government of West Bengal, said this partnership will “drive employment opportunities for the youth in the state” and “help bridge the skill gap for the booming warehousing and supply chain industry in West Bengal, while enhancing commercial and social development in the state.”

Flipkart’s Supply Chain Operations Academy programme will train the local youth of West Bengal in collaboration with the PBSSD and the state government, in an online or digital format, free of cost.

Candidates who successfully complete the course and assessment, will get an opportunity to be trained on the job at a Flipkart facility for 45 days. During the training, the trainees will receive a stipend of Rs 17,500. The joint certification of training will be given to successful candidates by the West Bengal State Council of Technical & Vocational Education and Skill Development (WBSCVET & SD) under the control of the Technical Education, Training & Skill Development (TET & SD) Department along with Flipkart.

Dhiraj Kapur, vice president – corporate affairs and government relations at Flipkart Group, said, this is an opportunity to “upskill and certify the local talent in e-commerce supply chain operations” and the move will help “create employment opportunities across organisations in the e-commerce industry”.

Kapur reiterated that Flipkart is “deeply committed to the ecosystem’s overall development, which includes our focus on upskilling and employability”.

In 2021, Flipkart launched the Supply Chain Operations Academy (SCOA) to provide skill training. The Company endeavours to certify over 4,000 individuals in the first year by offering 15 days of online training and 45 days of on-the-job training (OJT) at its supply chain facilities.

This is part of Flipkart’s commitment to providing relevant industry training and knowledge to help create a pool of skilled supply chain operations talent in India. The programme will impart knowledge on various facets of the e-commerce supply chain, including the roles within the supply chain, soft skills, safety and compliance know-how.