Lanjigarh, Kalahandi: Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest producer of aluminium, took trainee students of its Skill Training Program at Lanjigarh (Kalahandi district, Odisha) on an immersion tour to experience the workings of the hospitality industry. 30 trainees visited the Amrapali Hotel in Bhawanipatna and got a never-seen-before orientation on the hospitality industry, tourism, food & beverages, and housekeeping best practices from the hotel staff.
In March this year, Vedanta Aluminium launched a Skill Training Program to create employment opportunities for Lanjigarh’s youth by enhancing their skillsets in the housekeeping trade. The three-month long program is being implemented in partnership with NABARD and the Vedanta Foundation. Housekeeping as a trade was 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 across 8 villages in the vicinity of Vedanta’s Alumina Refinery plant at Lanjigarh. On completion of the 90-day 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.
Mr. GG Pal, Deputy CEO, Vedanta Lanjigarh, said, “At Vedanta, we believe in sustainable development where companies are partners in the communities’ progress. Our Skill Training Program for local youth of Lanjigarh is the latest in a long line of community development projects where we endeavour to enable the region’s populace skill development and financial inclusion. The progress and ambition that our housekeeping trainees have shown is truly remarkable! We wish them the best and look forward to enabling many more youth to stand on their feet, become skilled and financially empowered.”
Mr. Anand Prasana Behera, General Manager of Amrapali Hotel, who oriented the trainees on the job role, said, “This is a great initiative by Vedanta Aluminium in the hinterland of Kalahandi. This exposure visit will enhance the trainees’ understanding of the ecosystem within which they will work. As an employer, I would love to see these young talents at my workplace in the future.”
Mr. Malaya Kumar Meher, District Development Manager, NABARD, Kalahandi, who accompanied the trainees on their visit, added, “This was an excellent engagement activity for the trainees. Exposure visits are imperative for any skill training domain. This visit will not only give them firsthand experience, but also boost the confidence of trainees to pursue the remaining training with greater focus and interest.”
Vedanta Aluminium’s 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. Furthermore, it is nurturing and preserving tribal arts and sports such as Dhokra art, Saura art, and archery, and creating avenues for artisans and sportspeople to build thriving livelihoods.
Vedanta Aluminium, a business of Vedanta Limited, is India’s largest producer of aluminium, manufacturing 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. 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
