Bhubaneswar: On the occasion of World Youth Skills Day, Vedanta Aluminium announced that nearly 11,000 youths across Odisha and Chhattisgarh have been trained through its skill development initiatives.
Focusing on rural communities near its operations, these programs are helping bridge the gap between unskilled and semi-skilled youths through a three-pronged approach. They include trainings in market-relevant vocational skills, entrepreneurship and farming & animal husbandry, enabling youths to enter the socio-economic mainstream through sustainable livelihood opportunities, Vedanta said in a release.
Vedanta Aluminium is an active supporter of the government of India’s ‘Skill India’ vision, undertaking a slew of skill development programs which are closely aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) 1 and 8, namely, No Poverty and Decent Work and Economic Growth.
They are designed and deployed in close partnership with leading knowledge providers such as NABARD and the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), ensuring that youths are trained only on relevant curriculum and in-demand skill sets.
Vedanta Aluminium’s skill development endeavours encompass three focal areas, which are:
- Vocational skills: BALCO, India’s iconic aluminium producer and a subsidiary of Vedanta Aluminium based in Korba, Chhattisgarh, has undertaken the Vedanta Skill School program which imparts free training in six trades,including food & beverage, welding, sewing machine operation, solar PV technician, electrician, and fitter, in accordance with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) guidelines. At Lanjigarh, Odisha, home to Vedanta’s world class alumina refinery, the company has launched a Skill Training Program in partnership with NABARD, creating employment opportunities by enhancing skill sets in areas such as housekeeping and tailoring.
Vedanta Aluminium has also partnered with the Skill Development Institute in Bhubaneswar to offer a training program to youths in Sundargarh as industrial electricians. It has introduced a drivers’ training program in partnership with Society for Government of Odisha – Ashok Leyland HMV Driver Training Institute in Chhatia, Cuttack.
- Entrepreneurship: In addition to its development programs focused on youths, Vedanta Aluminium is also empowering rural women through Subhalaxmi Co-operative in Odisha, benefiting over 4000 members. The project provides micro-finance, skill development, financial literacy, and market linkage, building aspiring women entrepreneurs. By equipping artisans with modern techniques, the company has revived ancient art forms like Dhokra and Saura,empowering artisans to create contemporary designs for higher demand.This inclusive approach extends to local SHGs in Chhattisgarh, where skill development programs enable women to take up production of market-viable products, from handicrafts to exotic chocolates.
- Farming & animal husbandry: Through its Jeevika Samriddhi livelihood project, the company has also conducted several sessions on climate resilient farming practice and modern practices on animal husbandry, benefitting more than 330 households. Through its Project Sustainable Livelihood in Lanjigarh and Mor Jal Mor Maati project in Korba,the company provides training in a number of integrated community-based interventions that strive to improve incomes through better farming practices, water management, soil conservation, livestock husbandry, market linkages, and more.
Speaking on the occasion, COO of Vedanta Ltd – Aluminium Business, Sunil Gupta commented, “India has the youngest population in the world and our country’s progress lies in leveraging this demographic dividend, imparting them with the right skills as the landscape of work evolves. By providing avenues for local youth to acquire essential skills, Vedanta Aluminium enables them to secure gainful employment within and beyond their communities.”
Underscoring the efforts of the company, CEO and Director, BALCO, Rajesh Kumar said, “Vedanta BALCO is committed to empowering the youth of our nation with sustainable livelihood opportunities. Our skill development programs aim to equip them with the tools they need to shape their destinies and contribute to their communities, focusing on providing comprehensive training in diverse yet relevant sectors.”
