THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, APRIL 17, 2026

     Dalmia Bharat Foundation (DBF), the CSR arm of Dalmia Bharat Ltd., in partnership with the Odisha Skill Development Authority (OSDA), has launched two new residential DIKSHa Centres in Bhubaneswar at Katabada and Ghangapatna to enhance youth employability in the textile sector.

Aligned with DBF’s commitment to promoting sustainable livelihoods, the centres will provide training in the Sewing Machine Operator trade — an area witnessing strong demand in Odisha. With the state emerging as a growing hub for apparel manufacturing, the initiative aims to bridge the skill gap in entry-level machine operations, offering a viable employment pathway, particularly for women.

The centres, being operationalised through Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Sahana Clothing Company Ltd. and Armstrong Clothing Company Ltd., have a combined annual training capacity of 900 youth. The programme places a strong emphasis on women’s participation and offers industry-aligned training, backed by 100 per cent placement support through captive employment opportunities. Trainees will also receive third-party certification as nominated by OSDA.

With the addition of these facilities, DBF’s DIKSHa network in Odisha has expanded to eight centres, further strengthening its skilling ecosystem in the state.

The centres were inaugurated by prominent dignitaries, including Subasish Behera, DSDEO, Bhubaneswar (OSDA); Sanjeev Pradhan, Joint Director, OSDA; Durga Madhab Subudhi, Senior Manager, Sahana Clothing Company Ltd.; and Ashok Kumar Gupta, CEO, Dalmia Bharat Foundation.

Notably, this marks DBF’s first initiative featuring fully residential training facilities, aimed at extending structured skilling opportunities to youth from underserved and remote regions.

Commenting on the launch, Ashok Kumar Gupta, CEO, Dalmia Bharat Foundation, said, “At Dalmia Bharat, we see skill development as a key driver of socio-economic transformation. Odisha has been central to our skilling efforts, and this milestone reflects our continued commitment to the state’s youth. Through our DIKSHa Centres, we have trained over 10,000 young people in Odisha, achieving a 78% placement rate, with more than 60% women. With these new centres, we are further strengthening our presence and contributing to a more inclusive skilling ecosystem. We are grateful to the Government of Odisha and OSDA for their continued partnership in this shared mission.

Dalmia Bharat Foundation-led DIKSHa is a placement-linked, short-term skill training programme focused on empowering youth and women to join the skilled workforce. Currently, the programme operates 32 DIKSHa skill centres across 12 states and has trained over 29,800 youth, significantly enhancing employability in communities near its plant locations, with a strong focus on women and underrepresented groups.