Good Initiative: Vedanta launches skill training program for youths at Lanjigarh
Partnership with NABARD and implementation by Vedanta Foundation
By A K Sahoo/ Dr. Gouranga Charan Rout
Lanjigarh , March 21: Vedanta Limited, Lanjigarh unit, India’s premier producer of metallurgical grade alumina, has launched a Skill Training Program to create employment opportunities for local youth by enhancing their skillsetsin the housekeeping trade.The company has partnered with NABARD for the program, which will be implemented by the Vedanta Foundation.Inaugurated by Mr. Malay Kumar Meher, District Development Manager, NABARD, Kalahandi, in the presence of Mr. Dhruv Prasad Singh, Lead District Manager, Kalahandi and Mr. Bibhudendu Panda,Head – CSR (Vedanta Lanjigarh), the program will run for three months, starting March.
Housekeeping as a trade has been chosen considering the post pandemic boom in demand of semi-skilled workforce in the hospitality and tourism sectors.The first batch of 30 youth hail from across8 villages in the vicinity of the plant. By the end of this 90 days program, the batch will be upgraded to the category of semi-skilled workforce. Post third party assessment, successful trainees will be given qualification certificates, and provided appropriate placement opportunities. Vedanta aims to train at least 300 youth under this project in FY 2022-23.
Sharing the company’s mission of fostering sustainable livelihoods in the region, Mr. GG Pal, Deputy CEO, Vedanta Lanjigarh, said, “Vedanta Lanjigarh strive to enable youth from our local communities with skills and financial know-how, as part of our endeavours to create thriving livelihoods in the region. Our first project under skill development, the commencing batch of 30 students shall truly champion that vision. Together, we have been able to bring skills of various trades, entrepreneurial expertise, and financial knowhow to the rural margins, enabling the local youth to become skilled and financially empowered.”
Testimony to the occasion, Mr. Malaya Kumar Meher, District development Manager, NABARD, Kalahandi, said, it is indeed a great initiative by Vedanta Limited Lanjigarh in partnership with NABARD. The program will enhance the skill sets of youth as well as the employability. Successful completion of training will provide them better job opportunity in the market matching the industry standard requirement. I am confident, soon they will be able to contribute to the family income as well as overall economic growth of nation.”
Vedanta is running various livelihood and skill development projects at Lanjigarh. Its Sakhi project supports hundreds of rural women in capacity building training, enterprise development and institutional credit. The company has also fostered many farm and non-farm enterprises in poultry, pisciculture, vegetable cultivation, etc.
Vedanta Aluminium Business, a division of Vedanta Limited, is India’s largest manufacturer of aluminium, producing half of India’s aluminium i.e., 1.97 million tonnes in FY21. It is a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. The company operates a 2 MTPA (million tonnes per annum) capacity alumina refinery in Lanjigarh (Kalahandi district, Odisha), India since 2007 and an associated 90 MW captive power plant. With its world-class aluminium smelters, alumina refinery and power plants in India, the company fulfils its mission of spurring emerging applications of aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener tomorrow. www.vedantaaluminium.com
