Smile Foundation Receives Special Jury Award from Bengal Chamber for iTrain on Wheels Initiative
Kolkata, Dec 23: Smile Foundation received the Bengal Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BCC&I) Special Jury Award for Outstanding Contribution in large NGO category. The nomination was submitted under the “Education, Skill development and Alternative livelihood” category, showcasing our impactful work under iTrain on Wheels upskilling initiative, supported by Berger Paints and implemented by Smile Foundation, for the year 2024-25.
The award was conferred during the Annual Corporate Governance Session & 4th Edition of Social Leadership Awards 2025 in Kolkata. The award citation reads – “Your dedication and impactful contribution to social leadership are truly commendable.”
iTrain on Wheels initiative has so far trained 3.15 lakh paint applicators free of cost across the country. The programme is operational across 26 states and three UTs of India, covering 443 districts, including 51 aspirational districts.
Berger Paints India Limited and Smile Foundation came together in 2021 to implement iTrain on Wheels programme. This upskilling initiative is aimed at honing the skills of unorganized paint applicators (household painters) by training them in contemporary painting techniques while simultaneously upskilling existing paint applicators (painters) to enhance their employability and earning opportunities. The paint applicators receive the skilling and training free of cost in their vicinity across 26 states of India.
Besides technical skills development, the programme also places a significant emphasis on soft skills training, as well as entrepreneurial skills development.
An independent study on the programme shows that as many as 73 per cent of the respondents saw an increase in spending on vegetables and other nutritional food. This indicates a prioritization of health and well-being of the entire family and a comfortable standard of living. A significant 74 per cent of respondents have also purchased a vehicle each. It reflects their financial stability and an increase in the ability to realize their aspiration with the change in the income growth after completion of the iTrain programme. There has also been a corresponding increase in multiple expenditure areas related to family members. Established in 1833, Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCC&I) is one of India’s oldest and respected industry chambers.