Kalahandi’s Youth Step into Modern Workplaces with Vedanta Aluminium’s Skill Initiative

By Swagatika Mohapatra

Bhubaneswar, Oct. 30: Kalahandi — once known for its resilience and deep-rooted traditions — is now experiencing a quiet yet remarkable transformation. Across its towns and villages, a new story of ambition, confidence, and self-reliance is unfolding, powered by Vedanta Aluminium’s skill development initiative. The programme has trained over 800 young men and women from Bhawanipatna and Lanjigarh, with women forming 55% of the total participants. It is not only creating employable youth but also promoting gender-inclusive progress and reigniting local aspirations.

For decades, the youth of Kalahandi faced limited employment avenues. Today, Vedanta’s skill centres in Bhawanipatna and Lanjigarh — operated in collaboration with the Odisha Skill Development Authority (OSDA) and NABARD — are bridging this long-standing divide. The centres provide industry-relevant courses that blend classroom learning with practical, hands-on exposure. Covering sectors such as hospitality, retail, and food & beverage services, each module prepares trainees for dynamic workplace roles.

To date, 75% of participants have secured gainful employment, a strong indicator of the initiative’s success and social relevance. But beyond these figures lie stories of courage and transformation.

Take Bighanasini Bisi, a 21-year-old from Bhatguda, who now works at Fiesta Barbeque Nation in Pune. “Before this, I had never left my village,” she recalls. “The training gave me skills and the confidence to step into a world I never imagined I could be part of.”

A recent milestone came when the 22nd batch of the Food and Beverage course achieved 100% placement. All 24 trainees were hired by leading organisations such as AVN Group (Madurai), Sodexo (Bangalore), Club Mahindra (Pune), and Asmita Holidays (Bhubaneswar). For many of them, it marks their first stable income — earning salaries above the minimum wage, bringing financial security and pride to their families.

“Empowering youth through skills is integral to our growth vision,” said Pranab Kumar Bhattacharyya, CEO, Vedanta Alumina Business. “That more than half of our 800 trained youth are girls reaffirms our dedication to gender equality and empowerment in Kalahandi. The 100% placement success reflects the strength of quality training and partnerships with OSDA.”

Beyond employability, the initiative strives to create sustainable livelihoods and self-reliant communities. In line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on gender equality, poverty reduction, and decent work, Vedanta Aluminium’s effort demonstrates how focused corporate action can spark lasting grassroots change.

For the youth of Kalahandi, this journey is far more than job creation — it represents empowerment, opportunity, and a pathway to a brighter, self-sustained future.