NALCO Signs MoU with SDI Bhubaneswar for Youth Skill Development
Navratna PSU launches CSR initiative to empower local youth with industry-ready training
Bhubaneswar: National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), a Navratna Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Ministry of Mines, Government of India, has entered into a strategic partnership with Skill Development Institute (SDI), Bhubaneswar, an institute under the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoPNG). The collaboration is aimed at providing structured skill development programmes to the youth from peripheral villages surrounding NALCO’s operations in Odisha.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between NALCO Foundation, the company’s CSR wing, and SDI Bhubaneswar in the presence of Shri Brijendra Pratap Singh, Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD), NALCO, and Dr. Tapas Kumar Pattanayak, Director (HR), NALCO, along with senior officials from both organizations.
Training to Boost Employability
As part of this initiative, 30 youths each from villages surrounding NALCO’s Mines & Refinery Complex at Damanjodi and Smelter & Power Complex at Angul will be selected for intensive training. The programme will span three months of residential skill development, where participants will receive instruction in trades aligned with the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) guidelines of the National Skill Development Council (NSDC), Government of India.
The carefully designed curriculum will focus on practical, industry-relevant skills that are expected to enhance the employability of rural youth. Officials stated that the residential model will allow participants to receive immersive exposure and hands-on training, ensuring they are well-prepared for opportunities in both local industries and national-level employment markets.
Industry-Ready Skills for Sustainable Livelihoods
Speaking at the signing event, CMD Brijendra Pratap Singh emphasized the broader vision behind the collaboration. He said the initiative is not just about imparting technical skills but also about empowering rural youth with sustainable livelihood opportunities. “Through this partnership with SDI Bhubaneswar, we are nurturing talent at the grassroots level. These young people will be trained to meet industry demands and contribute to economic development while also improving their own quality of life,” he said.
CSR Commitment Towards Community Development
This initiative is a part of NALCO’s CSR strategy, reflecting the company’s long-standing commitment to inclusive community development in its areas of operation. The NALCO Foundation has been actively working in sectors such as education, health, women’s empowerment, and rural infrastructure, and youth skilling has emerged as a key focus area.
Officials from the NALCO Foundation highlighted that skill training has a direct link to employability and self-reliance, particularly in industrial regions like Angul and Damanjodi, where demand for skilled manpower is steadily growing. By equipping young men and women with industry-specific skills, the programme is expected to open new avenues for income generation and reduce migration pressures on rural communities.
Building a Skilled Workforce for Odisha and Beyond
The collaboration also aligns with the Government of India’s larger agenda of promoting Skill India and Atmanirbhar Bharat. With Odisha emerging as a hub for mining, metals, and energy sectors, there is an increasing demand for technically skilled manpower. Training youth in trades that are directly relevant to these industries ensures that local talent is absorbed into regional growth stories rather than being left behind.
Through this initiative, NALCO and SDI Bhubaneswar are not only addressing immediate employability concerns but also laying the foundation for a skilled workforce that can contribute to India’s long-term economic and industrial development.
A Model for Industry-Institution Collaboration
This MoU also sets a precedent for industry-institution partnerships in skill development. By combining the corporate social responsibility efforts of a leading PSU with the expertise of a specialized skill development institute, the initiative demonstrates how collaborative models can bring impactful results at the grassroots level.
As the programme gets underway, both organizations expressed confidence that it will transform the lives of rural youth, create pathways to decent jobs, and contribute to sustainable growth in NALCO’s operational regions.
