July 21, 2022 — Lumina Datamatics® Limited, one of the largest service providers to global publishers and eCommerce companies, has joined hands with Aaruthal Foundation, a non-governmental organisation in Chennai, to help with skill development among youth.
Aaruthal Foundation is working to help unemployed youth from underprivileged families find gainful employment and improve their socio-economic conditions. It partners with private organisations to organise training to develop specific skill sets. The Foundation designs this training based on their assessment of the education level of the target beneficiaries. It conducts these training sessions at the Aaruthal Skill Training Centre in Pallavaram, Chennai (Tamil Nadu).
COVID-19 has affected people’s ability to find and retain employment. The uncertainty exists across various strata of society, especially the financially weaker ones. Even among these, women are the worst hit.
Lumina Datamatics joined hands with Aaruthal Foundation to extend help to women facing such challenges. They have devised a two-month skill development programme in nursing aimed at helping women train as General Duty Assistants. General Duty Assistants (GDAs) usually work in hospitals and are also referred to as Orderlies, Nursing Aides, Patient Care Assistants or Bedside Assistants. Each batch will have 30 women beneficiaries. The programme will train 30 GDAs through 240 hours of classroom and an additional 180 hours of on-job training.
“The last 24 months came as a huge disruption for everyone, and healthcare as a term gained renewed significance. Healthcare professionals’ dedication, motivation to serve society, and courage have helped people stay strong in such circumstances,” said Sameer L. Kanodia, Managing Director & CEO, Lumina Datamatics Limited. “With utmost respect and consideration for this community, we are keen to make a positive difference. We chose to help with training women to serve as General Duty Assistants. Their ability to serve at hospitals empowers them financially as well as socially.”
A large part of patient care has moved to individual homes, and it adds to the growing demand for trained assistants who can work with doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. GDAs deliver prescribed healthcare services to their patients. Their most essential quality is service orientation, and they are required to understand their patients, serve with empathy, communicate clearly, follow prescriptions, and behave ethically.
With Aaruthal’s support, the trainees can claim a certificate upon completion of the programme, which results in guaranteed employment for up to 75 per cent of the participants. The skill development they experience also helps them grow their earnings up to 15 per cent on average.
“At Lumina Datamatics, we run several programmes and partnerships as part of our Corporate Social Responsibility. Each of our programmes is close to our hearts,” explains Anju Kanodia, Executive Director, Lumina Datamatics Limited. “Skill training is especially so since we are in the business of managing knowledge. We believe that empowering a woman empowers a family and are proud to partner with Aaruthal Foundation. The skills will make a difference to these women’s lives as well as to those whom they will professionally care for.”