Pune: 60 Girls from Economically Weaker Sections to Get Free AI Training and Laptop
Pune, 22nd April 2025: Currently, the importance of AI (Artificial Intelligence) is increasing everywhere. In a bid to provide training in AI to the young girls for the economically weaker section, Rotary Club of Bibwewadi Pune has joined hands with H. G. Foundation, Serrala India and Pune Institute of Computer Technology (PICT) to launch the initiative titled ‘Asmita Next. An official announcement to this effect was made during a special program at Hyatt Regency organized to mark a completion of a decade of Rotary Club of Bibwewadi, Pune.
Shakuntala Raha, Head of Rotary Foundation, South Asia Region was present as the chief guest for the program. Also present were Meena Patel, Past District Governor of the US, Dr. Sanjay Gandhe, Principal of Pune Institute of Computer Technology (PICT), Alok Arora, Managing Director of Serrala India, Swati Minch, Head of HR Serrala, Bob Shah of Rotary Club Luton North, which is the foreign partner, Dr Prachi Pandya and Jignesh Pandya, Coordinators of this Asmita Next initiative.
While sharing the details of ‘Asmita Next’, Dr Prachi Pandya said, “Two batches of 60 girls each would be given training in AI from the basic to the advanced level. The duration of the training for each batch would be 6 months and the training will happen at the PICT campus. The cost of training and the ultramodern Laptop required for this training shall be taken up by the Rotary Club of Bibwewadi – Pune. The cost that will be incurred on each girl for training and the laptop will come to about Rs.1. to Rs.1.25 Lakhs.”
“A special drive shall be launched amongst all the Rotary Clubs of the Rotary District 3131 to run a campaign to identify the girls that are eligible to be a part of Asmita Next initiative. The girls should belong to the economically weaker section of the society, should be from the science stream and should possess the basic knowledge of coding. This training will also have on job training modules and assistance for placements”, she added.
Shakuntala Raha, Head of Rotary Foundation, South Asia Region said, “This initiative is extremely relevant in the current times and its scope shall be expanded to the national and international level”.
“This initiative will provide an opportunity for girls from economically weaker sections to get AI training. They will be provided with an opportunity to get acquainted with the changes in technology. AI is making progress in all fields, so girls from economically weaker sections will definitely benefit from this initiative”, said Alok Arora, Managing Director of Serrala India.
Dr. Sanjay Gandhe, Principal of Pune Institute of Computer Technology (PICT) said that all the necessary facilities will be provided to them while offering this course to the girls at the Pune Institute of Computer Technology (PICT) campus.
