Face2News/Bilaspur (HP)/ Indore (MP)
Shaniya Devi and Diksha Sharma, who belong to Bilaspur district in the hill state of Himachal Pradesh, are cocking a snook at the popular perception. Driven by single-minded dedication and vaulting ambition, these teenagers are an embodiment of the evolution of Adani Skill Development Centre, popularly known as Adani SAKSHAM, which has pivoted away from metros like Bengaluru, Hyderabad to small towns such as Godda in Jharkhand and Gagal in HP, in a pan-India Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled upskilling mission.
Fortunately, the tyranny of distance was not an impediment for Shaniya and Diksha, who received cutting-edge technology-focused training, thanks to Adani SAKSHAM in Gagal, which holds the unique distinction of becoming HP's first Remote Pilot Training Organisation (RPTO)
Launched on May 16, 2016, by the Adani Foundation, Adani SAKSHAM is a force multiplier to the government’s ‘Skill India’ mission. Its curriculum, comprising drone operations, simulation-based training, three-dimension (3D) printing and AI is in keeping with the global trend, aiming to create an ecosystem that empowers the youth to be future-ready in an increasingly digitally driven world.
To be sure, Adani SAKSHAM isn’t a one-size-fits-all model. Courses are taught through hybrid formats such as virtual labs and hands-on learning.
Applicants don’t just consume information; they run simulations, fly drones and solve live problems, as Shaniya and Diksha’s bright career paths illustrate.
Such a long journey
Shaniya got her first job offer after completing the course. Initially, it was a customer support role at ATS Mohali, and two months later, she received her second job offer from Neurica Technology, also in Mohali, as a Product Assistant Executive and an impressive 35% rise in salary.Diksha’s life story, too, is on the lines of Shaniya. She grew up in a marginal farmer's family in Chhakoh village in Bilaspur district, where resources were few and far between, but values were deeply ingrained. Amidst the acute financial struggle, Diksha was resolute in her goal. She believed that knowledge could open a window of opportunities.
In retrospect, Shaniya’s digital literacy belied her humble upbringing. A native of Ghumarwin — a small town in Bilaspur district — the road to her home epitomises an old-world charm. Ghumarwin — nestled amidst pine-covered hills and fog-lined ridges — is a quintessential small town, where the internet signal is still a flicker, and the concept of AI is still an extra-terrestrial species.
She faced adversity at a tender age after she lost her father. Overnight, her mother became the family’s sole breadwinner as a health worker at a local clinic. Despite her meagre monthly pay, the determined widow vowed that her daughter’s education would not be sacrificed at the altar of hardship.
As luck would have it, Shaniya sailed through the school. But then the grim reality hit her hard. Soon, she realised that her skills and small-town origins were out of place with the rigorous demands in a highly competitive job market.
At the lowest ebb in her life, she came to know about Adani SAKSHAM. However, AI didn’t just sound futuristic; it sounded alien.
Yet, braving the odds, she enrolled, albeit hesitantly. Initially, she was unsure whether she could understand a single module. However, things fell into place in no time. Shaniya found herself not only learning but excelling.
She got her first job offer after completing the course. Initially, it was a customer support role at ATS Mohali, and two months later, she received her second job offer from Neurica Technology, also in Mohali, as a Product Assistant Executive and an impressive 35% rise in salary.
Diksha’s life story, too, is on the lines of Shaniya. She grew up in a marginal farmer's family in Chhakoh village in Bilaspur district, where resources were few and far between, but values were deeply ingrained. Amidst the acute financial struggle, Diksha was resolute in her goal. She believed that knowledge could open a window of opportunities.
Diksha didn’t come from privilege, but she came with a purpose. When she enrolled in Adani SAKSHAM’s AI course, she wasn’t just learning about machines. She was learning how to build a future where young girls from rural India don’t have to choose between responsibility and ambition. Diksha held on — not to compete, but to contribute.
Today, Diksha works as a Visa Filing Officer in Aerial Telecom Solutions Pvt. Ltd in neighbouring Punjab, handling the documentation and processing of visa applications, ensuring compliance with all relevant regulations and guidelines.
On the occasion of the National Technology Day, celebrated two days ago, Prime Minister Modi also described technology as a historic step towards a self-reliant India and said that it is an important achievement, especially in the direction of elevating India's indigenous capabilities and self-reliance in the defense sector.
Undoubtedly, girls like Shaniya and Diksha uphold the nation’s self-reliance in science and innovation. They have emerged as role models in this annual marquee event, which was first observed in 1999 following successful nuclear tests (Operation Shakti) conducted on this day in 1998.
Their stellar journey is symbolic of India’s paradigm shift, where access to technology is bridging gaps between geographies, genders and generations in small-towns and distant villages.
Data shows that since inception Adani SAKSHAM has trained over 1.85 lakh youth by investing more than 200 crore human hours. Collectively, they are generating over Rs 479 crore revenue annually. The programme is being run in over 40 cities across 15 states in the country.