To empower the retailer community in the states of Odisha and Uttar Pradesh, the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), working under the aegis of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), announced a partnership with Coca-Cola India to launch the Super Power Retailer Program under the Skill India Mission. The program is being piloted in the state of Odisha.

The partnership was formally announced in the presence of the Union Minister for Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan; Ved Mani Tiwari, chief operating officer, NSDC; and Sanket Ray, president, Coca-Cola India & Southwest Asia.

Speaking on the occasion, Dharmendra Pradhan mentioned that with the beginning of the auspicious celebration of Durga Puja, the launch of the Super Power Retailer will empower retailers and provide them with training to expand their businesses and enhance consumer experiences. He added that the initiative will play a pivotal role in strengthening India’s economy by skilling, reskilling, and upskilling the retailers.

Pradhan also mentioned how this initiative, aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of making our workforce the biggest beneficiary of developed India, will provide 14 hours of quality retail training through the Skill India Digital Portal to 1.40 crore retailers of the country. He also added that the retailers will be trained to plan and implement business strategies and utilize the vast opportunities extended by digital platforms.

Pradhan also informed that these training modules will be available in multiple languages, enabling small shopkeepers and big businessmen across the country. He added that this initiative will enable a retail ecosystem that will exceed customer expectations, embrace the Future of Work, and provide exponential growth to the industry.

On this occasion, Coca-Cola awarded successful retailers and honored women who have become self-reliant by utilizing their skills and entrepreneurship. Pradhan paid obeisance to the mothers of Odisha who have promoted their business with their smartness and entrepreneurial talent.

The Super Power Retailer Program will facilitate the empowerment and progress of the retailers, marking a significant milestone in Skill India's efforts to support the workforce. The initiative focuses on enabling retailers by focusing on building their capacity and capability in today's modern retailing sector. It aims to train small and micro retailers, equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to understand consumer behaviors and preferences better. Retailers will be provided with skills, tools and techniques required to succeed in the constantly changing retailer ecosystem and to spread knowledge of best practices, equipping traditional retailers with the right skill set necessary to make their business more profitable and build their business skills.

The program will offer industry-specific skills such as customer management, inventory and stock management, financial management, etc., tailored to the professional needs of retailers, making the retailers proficient and enhancing their knowledge. The 14-hour training will comprise two hours of classroom sessions and 12 hours of digital training. It will include physical classroom sessions and an app-based Learning Management System (LMS) accessible on mobile and handheld devices for online modules. The modules will be hosted on Skill India Digital's platform (SID). The training will be executed through a multimedia approach with a blend of videos and texts by experienced trainers facilitating learning. The participants will receive a certificate upon completion of classroom, online training, and assessment modules.

Under the partnership, NSDC will support Coca-Cola India in expanding the program's outreach on SID. This involves creating and refining training content that aligns with industry-specific skill requirements. Additionally, NSDC will facilitate the recruitment of trainers for program implementation and ensure a seamless learning experience by providing the requisite training infrastructure.

Reflecting on this milestone, Ved Mani Tiwari, chief operating officer, NSDC highlighted that a transformative revolution is underway within India's skill development ecosystem, driven by an unwavering commitment to empowering the country's youth and its ambitious workforce through skill acquisition, enhancement, and adaptation. He also mentioned that under the guidance and leadership of Dharmendra Pradhan, the introduction of the Academic Bank of Credit, a digital repository of prior learning experiences, will further empower the nation's youth.

Sanket Ray, president of Coca-Cola India & Southwest Asia, highlighted his company's effort to create value for the retailer ecosystem, which is an integral part of the business value chain. In the evolving consumer landscape, he added that equipping retailers with key entrepreneurial and digital skills enhances their relevance for today's consumers and enables them to be future-ready. He applauded the efforts of the Skill India Mission that foster innovation and provide industry-specific skills accessible to all.