People For Progress

The Yi chapter in each city consists of five verticals – education,public health,environment,employability and arts,sports and culture. Since its inception,Yi has spearheaded many progressive initiatives and conducted successful campaigns in these fields. One such initiative was a seed-ball plantation drive conducted by the environment vertical of the Pune chapter on World Environment Day. Members scattered approximately 50,000 seed-balls around Pune.

The education vertical has also undertaken several campaigns benefiting school children,such as the book collection drives conducted last year,dental check-up camps and revamping of school infrastructure. The health vertical took up de-worming as a cause last year. “Children of lower income groups may not have access to decent medical care,” says Ritu Nathani,former chair of the health vertical and current co-chair,Pune chapter. “And worms being one the primary causes of anemia,we conducted a city-wide de-worming drive,distributing approximately 20,000 tablets,with the assistance of the Wockhardt group.”

The employability vertical of Yi is one of its most interesting and successful wings. Through this vertical,Yi conducts training sessions and assists youngsters to become more employable. Across the nation,Yi has trained and placed about 1300 youth under the guidance of the Yi labs employability programme.

Yi being the youth wing of the CII,it also serves as a link between professional institutes and the corporate sector. “Through our Student Nets,we allow students to gain an insight into the industry,” says Padmini Sudaram,chair,Yi Pune chapter. Not only do the Student Nets allow students to interact with members of the industry and learn what is expected of them in the field,but it also tries to involve these students in its ventures related to social causes. Yi forms its Student Nets by associating with various institutes such as Symbiosis Arts and Commerce College and the Symbiosis Institute for International Business.

Through its Farmers Nets,Yi helps many young farmers across the country gain due representation in the required governmental avenues and provides for them a platform to voice their needs and concerns regarding issues such as infrastructure,food prices,and so on. The Farmers Nets have successfully enrolled 8500 young farmers,providing them with real time agricultural inputs and know-how.

Yi also has numerous corporate chapters across the nation where companies affiliate themselves with the organisation as a unit. “By way of our corporate chapters,the entire corporate participates as opposed to just particular individuals,” says Sudaram.