The path shown by Karnataka has been followed by other states. Aware that the civil aviation and tourism boom was here to stay, the Karnataka government was the first to embark on the concept of providing training to students of weaker sections in 2005. Several hundred students have now received the benefit of this programme not only in Karnataka but other States as well.
The State government floated a tender in 2005 and entered into an agreement with the Air Hostess Academy (AHA) early 2006 for their training as cabin crew, ground staff at airports, hotel industry and for BPO. The first batch from the social welfare department itself was 100 strong. What the two sides started has come to a stay now with half a dozen States coming forward with similar requests.
Speaking to Deccan Herald on the occasion of the AHA completing 10 years, its vice president Daya Prakash said over 500 students belonging to weaker sections including dalits, tribals and minorities from different parts of Karnataka have passed out from its Bangalore centre. Not only that, almost all of them have been employed with most being absorbed while on training.
The trend has been continued by States like Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Chattisgarh and Sikkim. “We take care of all expenses including hotel, food, uniform, swimming training, first aid training etc. They take some time to adapt to the system but after a few months, they are as good as anybody”, Prakash added.
AHA, which has 32 training centres all over the country with 7,000 students, offers training in travel and tourism, human resource and corporate management.
By 2010, it has plans to open 100 centres and have a student strength of 20,000. It has plans to open centres in neighbouring countries and in Australia, UK and USA. It also plans to expand by offering different courses including aircraft maintenance engineer and pilot training.
Union tourism minister Ambika Soni, who inaugurated a function organised in connection with the 10th anniversary of AHA, said 2007 attracted five million tourists into India from abroad while the number of Indians going abroad as tourists increased to eight million.
The tourism boom has thrown up demand for hotel rooms too, she said and added that there was a need for 1.5 lakh hotel rooms in the country by 2010 which includes one lakh rooms in budget hotel category alone.
The minister also released the book Winning Strategies: Serving with a Smile of AHA founder and director Sapna Gupta.
