995 youth trained, including 482 women; 803 secure employment across six districts of Western Odisha

 

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BURLA/SAMBALPUR, SEPTEMBER 25, 2026

For nearly 1,000 young people across Western Odisha, vocational training is translating into employment, financial independence and new opportunities for their families. As part of its CSR efforts, TP Western Odisha Distribution Limited (TPWODL) trained 995 youth through its Vocational Training Centres in FY26, of whom 803 have secured employment, representing a placement rate of over 80%.

Women have been a significant part of this journey, with 482 women receiving training and 397 securing employment during the year.

Launched in FY23 as part of TPWODL’s CSR initiatives focused on skill development and livelihood creation, the programme is designed to bridge the gap between training and employment by equipping young people with practical, industry-relevant and workplace-ready skills.

TPWODL’s Vocational Training Centres currently operate across six districts — Bolangir, Bargarh, Kalahandi, Sundargarh, Sambalpur and Sonepur — offering training across six trades: General Duty Assistant, Electrical, Plumbing, Solar Installer, Customer Care and Food & Beverage (F&B). The centres are supported by NGO partners Pratham and Orion.

Beyond the numbers, the initiative is creating tangible pathways to livelihoods. For many beneficiaries, the training has meant securing their first job, earning a steady income and gaining greater financial independence while contributing to the well-being of their families.

Shrabani Sai, who grew up near Bolangir in a family of daily-wage labourers, had long aspired to become financially independent and build a better future for her family. She enrolled in the General Duty Assistant (GDA) course at a TPWODL Vocational Training Centre supported by Pratham. After successfully completing the training, she secured employment at a hospital in Bolangir.

 “Coming from a family of daily-wage labourers, I always wanted to build a better future for my family. The vocational training supported by TPWODL gave me the skills and confidence to pursue that dream. Completing the GDA course helped me secure a job at a hospital and become financially independent. Today, I can support my family and look ahead with greater confidence. I am truly grateful for this opportunity,” said Shrabani.

A similar journey unfolded for Suraj Oram, whose circumstances changed following the loss of his father, the family’s sole source of income. Faced with greater responsibilities, Suraj enrolled in the Customer Care Executive course, where he developed his communication, customer service and soft skills.

Today, Suraj works as a Sales Executive at Reliance Trends in Sambalpur, earning ₹13,000 per month along with additional benefits.

 “When my father passed away, I had to support my family, but I lacked the skills and confidence to find a steady job. Joining the Customer Care Executive course at TPWODL’s CSR Vocational Training Centre helped me strengthen my technical knowledge and communication skills. Today, I work as a Sales Executive at Reliance Trends, earning ₹13,000 per month. This has brought financial stability to my household and inspired other young people in my village,” said Suraj.

Commenting on the initiative, Parveen Verma, CEO, TPWODL, said, “The future of any region is closely linked to the aspirations and potential of its young people. Through our CSR initiatives, we want to go beyond providing training and create pathways that enable youth to participate meaningfully in the economy and build sustainable livelihoods. Our Vocational Training Centres are an investment in that future — helping young people develop the skills, confidence and opportunities they need to shape their own lives and contribute to the communities they belong to.”

For TPWODL, the initiative represents a focused effort to build a bridge between learning and earning. By combining vocational training with employment-oriented skills and placement support, the programme is helping young people take their first steps into the workforce and move towards greater financial independence.

The stories of Shrabani and Suraj are two examples of a broader journey — one in which skilling becomes a pathway to employment, opportunity and a more secure future for young people and their families across Western Odisha.