ICICI Academy for Skills, a rural initiative of ICICI Foundation, plans to train over 2.5 lakh under-privileged youth by March 2018.

The academy’s rural self-employment training institutes (RSETIs) has already imparted training to almost 1.9 lakh youth.

The centre in Coimbatore trains 1,800 students annually in six skills such as refrigeration and air-conditioning repair, electrical and home appliance repair, central air-conditioning, pumps and motor repair, two and three-wheeler service technicians and selling skills.

Trained candidates are placed through industry partnership in companies such as Reliance Digital, Yamaha India, Ramdev Motors, Aurora Cooling Solutions, Velsons Engineers Pvt Ltd, Lotus TVS, Micro Tech Engineering Corporation, RA TVS, City Motors (Hero) and Bharath TVS, company sources said.

The foundation has 24 academies across India to provide training in technical and office skills.

The foundation has joined hands with various industry leaders to help co-create the course curriculum, content and training of trainers. The academy also provides free food, accommodation and uniforms to the trainees.