CSR-Driven Skilling with a Focus on Inclusion
The programme was implemented under NMDC’s Skill Development initiative in partnership with the Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering & Technology (CIPET). Fully funded by NMDC, the project aims to equip unemployed and underprivileged tribal youth with practical, industry-relevant skills that lead directly to sustainable employment.
What sets the initiative apart is its inclusive eligibility criteria. With a minimum educational requirement of Class 8, the programme ensured that school dropouts and youth from economically weaker sections were not excluded from the formal skilling ecosystem. This approach reflects NMDC’s broader commitment to inclusive growth and social equity.
Leadership Reaffirms Commitment to Nation Building
The felicitation and interaction session was attended by NMDC’s senior leadership, including Chairman and Managing Director Shri Amitava Mukherjee, Director (Technical) and Director (Commercial, Additional Charge) Shri Vinay Kumar, and Director (Production) and Director (Personnel, Additional Charge) Shri Joydeep Dasgupta. Senior officials from CIPET were also present.
Addressing the trainees, Shri Amitava Mukherjee described the occasion as a powerful reminder of what access to opportunity can achieve. He noted that the journey of the trainees went beyond physical distance, reflecting a transformation in confidence and self-belief. He emphasized that skilling youth remains central to building an Atmanirbhar Bastar and ensuring that tribal communities are active participants in India’s growth story.
Shri Vinay Kumar highlighted NMDC’s long-standing association with Chhattisgarh and its role in the state’s development. Extending his best wishes to the trainees, he encouraged them to approach their professional journeys with discipline and determination.
Shri Joydeep Dasgupta termed the placements a crucial milestone in the lives of the students and urged them to continue learning, adapt to changing industry demands, and aspire to become future entrepreneurs.
From Limited Opportunities to New Beginnings
For many of the trainees, the programme represented more than just a job opportunity. Coming from modest backgrounds where employment options were scarce, the training offered a chance to break long-standing cycles of economic uncertainty.
Sukhram, a Class 12 pass youth from Bastar, shared how early personal loss and limited resources had shaped his childhood. Securing formal employment, he said, would alter the course of his family’s future. Stories like his reflect the broader social impact of structured skill development initiatives in remote regions.
Scaling Impact Through NMDC–CIPET Partnership
The current batch is part of a larger NMDC–CIPET collaboration that aims to train 500 youth from Dantewada and Bastar districts. The programme offers a range of courses, from short-term operator-level training to diploma and postgraduate diploma programmes in plastics technology, aligned with industry needs.
By focusing on employability and practical skills, the initiative strengthens the local workforce while contributing to national objectives such as Skill India and Make in India.
Strengthening the Vision of Viksit Bharat
NMDC’s achievement of 100 percent placement for Bastar youth stands as a compelling example of how public sector enterprises can drive inclusive development. By aligning corporate responsibility with grassroots needs, the company has demonstrated that sustainable livelihoods can be created even in regions historically affected by limited access to education and employment.
As India advances towards becoming a developed nation, initiatives like these reaffirm that empowering youth, especially from tribal and rural areas, is essential to building a resilient and inclusive economy.
