In the Dayalbagh Educational Institute's (DEI) Education Policy, articulated in 1975, two of the foundational concepts are to build ideals of humility, simple living, selfless service and sacrifice and to develop respect for ‘soiled hands’, dignity of labour, and, self-reliance.
UGC's visiting team to DEI in 1977 observed that DEI is engaged in providing a good academic programme in agricultural-rural-industrial complex, oriented to specific conditions and needs and providing suitable social service, work experience, national integration and vocational training programmes aligning with academic curricula. They further observed, that DEI, with its courses, is able to give a greater emphasis on preparing students for self-reliance and self-employment and thus fulfill its objective more effectively.
Today's post is on one such initiative, an initiative in the remote tribal areas of Middle India, to enhance the skills of tribal youth, helping them start and establish nano-enterprises and making them self-reliant, an initiative called AAM Karkhana.
Read on,
Anurag
Automobile And Multi-Skill (AAM) Karkhana
The education system in Dayalbagh is over a hundred years old and two of its important features are: vocational education and training, and selfless service to the underprivileged. The educational system is underpinned by the philosophy of social responsibility by way of providing low-cost, high-quality education and training locally. Accordingly, DEI not only offers programs and courses in engineering and management but also offers modular programs to persons who are unable to continue with higher studies for any reason, academic, financial or domestic. DEI has taken need-based courses to remote locations of the country for tribal and unprivileged sections of society.
 |
| Disseminating Information: Roadshow by Yamaha Motors |
 |
| Disseminating Information: Village Chaupal |
The AAM (Automobile and Multi-skilling) Kharkhana was established at Rajaborari by DEI’s Centre of Rural Entrepreneurship (CORE) and Technical College with the help of India Yamaha Motor Pvt Ltd (IYMPL), Surajpur. The objectives of the AAM Kharkhana include:
- Skill enhancement of local tribal youth in repair of automobiles, agro-farm equipment, electric appliances, iron fabrication/welding etc.
- Establishment of a common resource center for young entrepreneurs for skilling and entrepreneurial experimentation.
- Extending sustainable self-employment opportunities in remote tribal areas.
The AAM Karkhana at Rajaborari is fully equipped with essential equipment for automobile service and repair such as tools, air compressors, washing units, hydraulic two-wheeler ramps, spark plug cleaners and testers. The Karkhana is also equipped with a motor winding machine, welding machine, and drill machine, etc., for repair of electric appliances, and iron fabrication/welding jobs. AAM offers services to the local population in the above fields at competitive rates and provides opportunities to the tribal youth for training and self-employment. The trainee, after acquiring adequate skills, can even work at the Karkhana on payment of nominal charges towards rent for space and tools and equipment, electricity and water charges, etc. Experts from the Department of Automobile Engineering, DEI Technical College are regularly sent on deputation to Rajaborari to train the local youth. An expert welder from a nearby village, Temrubahar, in the Rajaborari estate akes on fabrication jobs and trains those interested in welding.
 |
| Motorcycle service and repair - early days, without AAM Karkhana shed |
 |
| AAM Karkhana duly established |
 |
| Motorcycle being serviced in the AAM Karkhana. |
 |
| Motorcycle being serviced in the AAM Karkhana. |
 |
| Motor winding jobs at the AAM Karkhana. |
 |
| Welding jobs being attended to at the AAM Karkhana. |
Earlier, the local residents of Rajaborari Estate (comprising 10 villages with a population of over 5000 people) had to go to Timarni (55 km away) to have their vehicles serviced or repaired. This is now possible locally at very reasonable rates, saving time, energy, and money.
The AAM Workshop also serves as a shared ‘Rural Resource Centre’ where anyone can come and use the equipment for his private or commercial use at a very nominal fee. Two companies, IYMPL and Mahindra were informed that the villagers come to the Karkhana in large numbers and asked if they would like to organize free service camps (FSC) in the Basant Mela, a local fair of importance, to be held between 7 – 10 February 2017. Both agreed and their stalls were a great success with 213 motorcycles, 4 tractors and 3 SUVs serviced in the camp; the villagers requested that such camps be organized regularly.
 |
| Free Service Camp by IYMPL |
 |
| Motorcycle washing at Free Service Camp |
 |
| Free Service Camp by Mahindra |
 |
| Mahindra vehicle being attended at Free Service Camp |
Beneficiary Testimonials:
- “I have undergone six-month two-wheeler automobile repair training at AAM Karkhana Rajaborari. The DEI Technical College has also arranged and sponsored twenty-day training for me at India Yamaha Motor Pvt. Ltd, Surajpur (near Noida). I have now started my own flour mill cum automobile repair shop in my village which provides livelihood to my family.” - Mr. Ashok Uikey, Tribal Youth, Village Rajaborari, Dist. Harda (M.P.)
- “I belong to village Temrubahar (a Korku tribal village) in district Harda. I am using the welding equipment and infrastructure of AAM Karkhana, Rajaborari for my self-employment purposes. I was working in a factory at Bhopal as welder but now I have relocated back to my village and started my own welding services by using AAM Karkhana equipment (welding machine, cutter, power back-up etc.). I am simultaneously managing my agriculture operations as well. I have earned Rs. 50,000 in past six months from my welding jobs without making any investment in the costly equipment and power back-up in this rural area” - Mr. Sukhdev Bhusare, Korku Tribe, Village Temrubahar
- “I have completed my one-year certificate program in Motor Vehicle Mechanic (MVM) from DEI and am presently working at the AAM Karkhana since past two months. I will open up my own workshop in my village Mogradhana in times to come.” - Mr. Anand Raj Bhalavi, Korku Tribe, Village Mogradhana
- “My name is Gurdayal Yadav and I belong to village Mogradhana. My father is a farmer and we also have a small kirana shop in our house. I attend training at the AAM Karkhana in the forenoon and help my old father in managing the shop in the afternoon. I have plans to take loan after my training and expand my current shop to include automobile repairs as well.” - Mr. Gurudayal Yadav, Rural Youth, Village Mogradhana
