A small intervention, a huge impact

Mahindra takes CSR seriously. Not just as a tick-in-the-box, but as an endeavor to positively impact the lives we touch. We value even the smallest interventions, for they go a long way in shaping people’s future. As we complete 75 years, we look back at one more story that reminds us to keep going.

This is the story of Rahul Shirsat. He is a police constable posted at Rupee Nagar police station, Pune. Today, he speaks with confidence and draws a handsome salary. But, life hasn’t been a smooth sailing journey; he experienced hardships from a young age. In a family of six members, his parents found it difficult to provide for him, his two brothers and younger sister. His father, a mason, was the sole breadwinner of the family. They lived on daily wage and the sporadic nature of his work meant that some days were even harsher.

Rahul completed class 10^th through an external board and class 12^th from Mahatma Phule College, Pimpri. Since childhood, he has aspired to join the armed forces, but his immediate need was to earn a living, no matter his field of work. So, he would take up part-time jobs as a helper in manufacturing plants to support his family.

Rahul came to know about Mahindra Pride School (MPS) from his relatives. He enrolled in the Retail course at MPS, which enabled him to master communication skills and secure a job after the course.

“I was good at studies but lacked confidence. Mahindra Pride School changed the course of my life. It showed me the mirror and made me realise that I can indeed achieve my goals.”

The training also made him fluent in English and provided a much-needed boost to his communication. After the completion of the course, he was selected as an insurance advisor for a leading life insurance company. In his first job itself, his earnings more than doubled.

After his first stint as a life insurance agent, Rahul pitched to MIDC to take up contracts to supply machines for their projects. He says that the latter is earned usually through trust and demonstrated success – something he was able to achieve all because the course trained him a certain way.

“The training at MPS polished me and equipped me with skills required in my first two stints. It gave me the confidence to take a shot at becoming a contractor.”

Rahul did not stop here. With a new wave of confidence, he applied for what seemed like a recession-proof and more secure job, and something that was the next best thing to getting into the armed forces – getting into the Maharashtra Police. He has been with them since almost a decade now.
Having graduated to earning nearly 25 times of what he started with, Rahul could consider settling down. He is now happily married and lives with his wife and two children, a seven-year-old daughter and a four-year-old son. He is grateful to MPS for pulling him out of the ditch he felt he had fallen into and credits the training for his confidence. He insists that everyone must be bold and pursue their dreams.

“With faith in the self and determination, sometimes dreams do come true!”

_{Rahul Shirsat graduated from the first batch at Mahindra Pride School, Pune. Like Rahul, over 3,26,697 youth from socially and economically disadvantaged communities have received training through the Mahindra Pride Program. At Mahindra Pride Schools, besides the domain specific training in one of the four verticals – IT enabled services (ITES), Organised Retail, Hospitality and QSRs, and the Automotive Sector, the youth are groomed in spoken English, grooming and soft skills. This has had a transformational impact on their lives and has equipped them to navigate the challenges of the professional world with ease. 100% of the students have been placed in reputed companies and are excelling in their careers. The Mahindra Pride Classrooms have trained 2,87,417 youth from ITIs, Polytechnics and Arts & Science Colleges across 18 states, through 40-120 hours training modules covering spoken English, Life Skills, Aptitude, Interview Preparedness, Group Discussion and Digital Literacy. Mahindra Pride Schools & Classrooms are enabling the country to reap its demographic dividend and is an example of Mahindra CSR driving positive change in the lives of its stakeholders and communities.}