The Business Bytes
TBB BUREAU
LANJIGARH, MAR 28, 2024
The Lanjigarh Unit of Vedanta Limited, India’s premier producer of metallurgical grade alumina and a unit of Vedanta Aluminium, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Odisha Skill Development Authority (OSDA) with the aim to upskill more than 1,300 youths in a span of 3 years.
Its skill training initiative has supported rural, unemployed youths from Kalahandi district who have dropped out of school due to socio-economic constraints, to secure sustainable livelihoods. The company aims to broaden the scope of this initiative through various partnerships with renowned institutions like the National Bank for Agriculture & Rural Development (NABARD) and many more.
Since its inception in 2022, the program has trained rural youths from Kalahandi district for a wide range of employment opportunities within the food & beverage, textile, and electrical maintenance industries. Teaching is imparted through a good balance of immersive practical simulations and theory along with behavioral trainings and industrial visits to give them hands-on experience in different job roles.
So far, more than 200 youths have been trained in various skills like stewardship, sewing machine operation, and electrical maintenance. Ongoing commitment to fostering deeper connections with recruiters has paid off, achieving a 75 per cent placement record, with students getting placed in reputed organizations like Ramoji Film City, Taj Group of Hotels, and many more. The initiative also marks a significant step towards nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship, leveraging collective strengths and resources to create a robust and supportive environment for entrepreneurs to thrive, as many youths from the region don’t want to pursue jobs. The endeavor closely aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of Decent Work & Economic Growth (SDG8), Reduce Inequalities (SDG10), and Partnership for Goals (SDG17).
Speaking on the initiative, Vedanta Ltd. CEO-Alumina Business, Pranab Kumar Bhattacharyya, said, “Our commitment to nurturing the potential of our youth goes beyond empowerment – it’s about cultivating a legacy of self-reliance. By equipping them with entrepreneurial skills and financial acumen, we’re not just shaping individual futures, but working towards the development of entire communities. As we pave the way for self-sustenance, we’re laying the foundation for an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ – a nation driven by innovation, independence, and prosperity.”
Kalahandi District Employment Officer Ajit Kumar Uttaray said, “The skills training program is a positive move towards securing the future of Kalahandi by upskilling a huge talent pool that we have here. Through this collaboration, we will be able to ensure better opportunities for socio-economic upliftment and betterment of communities across the district.”
Vedanta Lanjigarh’s social interventions in the domains of sustainable livelihood, quality education, women empowerment, health, water and sanitation and community infrastructure reach out to over 67 villages and nearby areas. Vedanta’s skill training initiative underscores more than 200 individuals, comprising underprivileged youth, of which 60 per cent are women. It empowers more than 4,000 women from over 378 SHGs; provides qualitative and doorstep healthcare services to about 60,000 people annually. The company also established Lanjigarh’s first English-medium school – the DAV Vedanta International School and has nurtured 4,000 children and 800 women in over 200 Nand Ghars, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, while empowering around 200 youths through sports and skill training initiatives.
