We Are Water Foundation, the CSR wing of Roca, has partnered with Indian Plumbing Skills Council (IPSC) to train 700 women and a total of 1,600 beneficiaries across India in the field of plumbing. Accordingly, a skill development program under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) will be conducted by IPSC for the plumbing workforce, with a special focus on women. A joint project of one year, the RPL program aims to empower the beneficiaries with the right skill sets for enhanced employment opportunities. Through training modules the programs aim to touch base with plumbing communities in metro cities like Delhi/NCR, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, along with tier II and III cities across India.

A lack of professionally trained plumbers is a major drawback for the country’s construction and related sector. Therefore the process of skill development is expected to help beneficiaries improve their workmanship, thereby increasing their potential of employment, entrepreneurship and earning. The training initiative will be part of Roca’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) activity, wherein independent plumbers and plumber assistants (including women engaged in this trade) working in the market will be provided with free training for the specific job roles as per National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF). Furthermore, the plumbers will be assessed and subsequently felicitated with Skill India and IPSC certification for recognising their skills.

Sharing his thoughts on the partnership with IPSC, K E Ranganathan, managing trustee of We Are Water Foundation and Roca India’s managing director, said, “We are delighted to announce our association with IPSC, to help inculcate the desired skills among the existing plumbing technicians, with a key focus on women, who are breaking stereotypes by joining the profession.” He added that the certification would create better employment opportunities for women and empower them socially and economically. “As a global foundation supported by a socially responsible corporate, it is crucial for us to invest in developing the skill sets of the community with the right tools and training while imparting a strong understanding of the latest technologies and products,” he remarked.

Apart from providing financial support for skill development of plumbers and plumbing assistants, a dedicated training team will be present to give special training to plumbers on-ground. “The Foundation has been working across the globe to uplift the underprivileged and provide them with necessities required to lead a healthy and better life,” shared Ranganathan.

“We at IPSC have been working continuously to engage the plumbing industry towards the Skill India Mission. Our association with Roca is a great step towards creating more opportunities for the plumbing workforce, especially women, to not only enhance their plumbing skill sets but also get certified, recognised and earn a better livelihood,” averred Vinay Gupta, vice chairman, IPSC.

Commenting on the association, Dr Manish Kumar, MD & CEO of National Skill Development Corporation, said, “This collaboration will empower a large number of Indian youth – men and women alike – to undertake industry-relevant skill training that will support their professional growth in this informal sector.”