PARFI, an IIT Alumni Network to Train Underprivileged Youth

The alumni of Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) have been successful in training 80,000 youth and getting them placed in various sectors in the skilled industry. Now, they are planning to open more skill centres across the country. The alumni network of IIT has been running a PanIIT Alumni Reach for India Foundation (PARFI) which is also known as Gurukul. Under this foundation, young men and women from underprivileged families receive training in various technical skills like logistics, medical services, construction, electrical and others. They get assured placements after the completion of training.

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Taking the initiative of Prime Minister’s Skill India programme as a role model, the foundation is looking to expand themselves in a bigger way. The foundation has been successful in working with Tamil Nadu and Jharkhand governments. Currently, PARFI is in talks with the other state governments and is looking forward to exploring possibilities in Agriculture sector in states like UP, Haryana and Punjab.

At PARFI, the students are trained by the members of the foundation according to the demands of the industry. The government and teachers are providing the infrastructure for the foundation. The foundation runs on a loan-based model for students. Here, the students get loans from NABARD.

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Ashank Desai, Co-Founder of PARFI said that the new technology is creating a wave in the current scenario. Hence, the industry needs skilled people who are well-equipped with the new technology. So, the foundation is planning to expand its centres to train more young men and women from underprivileged families. He concluded that the basic idea is to meet the demand of skilled youth and the foundation needs to train them in the way industry wants.