Bangalore headquartered The/Nudge Foundation, a non-profit focused on poverty alleviation, in partnership with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) recently announced the launch of “Centre for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship” (CSDE), India’s first institution dedicated to accelerating the impact and scale of India’s skill development and entrepreneurship initiatives. India is adding one million people into the workforce every month and this institutional approach to work on deeper issues affecting skilling ecosystem is critical and timely. The Centre aims to become an eminent global institution that addresses the pressing problems of youth unemployability and unemployment.

Talking about the initiative, Rajesh Agrawal, joint secretary, Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) said, “Organisations such as The/Nudge Foundation are rooted in strong, on-ground action and are providing an institutional backbone to the government to help accelerate the scale of the Government’s initiatives. The gaps in the skilling ecosystem can be filled through new thinking, new insights and new ideas that they bring. We need to innovate across all levels to make Skill India the backbone for the New India of our dreams.”

Atul Satija, founder & CEO, The/Nudge said, “Our Gurukul model has been scaled up to aid 3500 students to graduate annually, with 100 percent placements into top employers, which has helped us understand the deeper challenges and opportunities that skill development presents. With CSDE, we are expanding our mandate to support the skilling ecosystem at large, given the magnitude of the problem India is facing today, and dedicate this Centre to the youth of the nation.”

CSDE will focus on research, innovations, technology, consulting, and programs to support the skill development ecosystem and stakeholders including government, academia, industry and service providers. CSDE will also partner with NSDC to jointly work on research, pilots and new innovative models in skilling.

Speaking about the collaboration, Manish Kumar, MD & CEO, NSDC said, “NSDC facilitates initiatives that create a multiplier effect on the skill ecosystem. The/Nudge Foundation has demonstrated success in running the Gurukul programme which focuses on all-round development of an individual. The launch of Centre for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship will support NSDC’s efforts in empowering youth with skills and enable innovation through action research.”

In 2015 The/Nudge Foundation started the Gurukul programme, a 90-day fully residential training programme for underprivileged youth, aimed at job and life-readiness. The Gurukuls are located in Bangalore and Delhi, running at an annual student rate of over 3500, serving students from across more than 10 states specialising in livelihoods such as BPO, Retail, Plumbing, Electrician, Beauty and achieving 100 percent placements.

The/Nudge Foundation is a collective of some of India’s best leaders and entrepreneurs that aims to pull millions of people sustainably out of poverty. To learn more, visit https://www.thenudge.org/.