THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
LANJIGARH, FEBRUARY 13, 2026
Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest producer of aluminium, has
successfully completed the 27th batch of its Food & Beverage (F&B)
Skill Training Programme in Kalahandi, Odisha, achieving a notable 100 per cent
placement rate. Underscoring its focus on inclusive development, the batch
included seven specially-abled candidates, each of whom has secured employment
with prominent organisations across the service, aviation, and hospitality
sectors.
The candidates have been placed with reputed employers such as IndiGo,
Club Mahindra, Belgian Waffle, Minerva Grand, AVN Group, Sri Nature Valley, and
Golf Club, signalling strong industry confidence in inclusive, skill-based
hiring from aspirational districts like Kalahandi.
Implemented in partnership with the Odisha Skill Development Authority
(OSDA) and the National Bank for Agriculture & Rural Development (NABARD)
at Bhawanipatna and Lanjigarh, the programme forms part of Vedanta Aluminium’s
long-term strategy to create sustainable livelihood opportunities, stimulate
grassroots economic growth, and contribute to the national vision of Viksit
Bharat. The initiative is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable
Development Goals, particularly SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and
Economic Growth).
Many of the specially-abled trainees come from remote rural areas with
limited access to formal education and employment pathways. Through structured
technical instruction, workplace readiness modules, and employer sensitisation
efforts, the Vedanta Lanjigarh Skill Training Centre has enabled their
confident transition into the mainstream workforce with dignity and
self-reliance.
Speaking on the initiative, Pranab Kumar Bhattacharyya, CEO – Vedanta
Alumina Business, said: “By enabling specially-abled youth to transition from
training centres into mainstream workplaces, we are demonstrating that
inclusive hiring is not a social initiative, but a strategic workforce
imperative. This milestone reinforces our belief that when skill development is
aligned with industry needs and supported by the right ecosystem, it delivers
both social and economic value.”
Sharing his journey, Tribhuban Suna, one of the placed specially-abled
candidates, said that before joining the programme he had little hope of
employment, but the training helped him build confidence and workplace skills,
enabling him to secure a job and support his family, transforming his life.
The initiative aims to train more than 1,300 rural youth over three years
through a two-pronged model that combines employability training with
entrepreneurial opportunities. So far, over 941 youth have been trained,
marking a significant milestone in the programme’s expansion.
By facilitating stable and dignified livelihoods for specially-abled youth, the initiative has enhanced household incomes and strengthened socio-economic integration in the region, reaffirming Vedanta Aluminium’s role as a catalyst for inclusive growth in rural Odisha.
Over the years, the company has driven holistic development in and around Lanjigarh through focused interventions in healthcare, education, sustainable livelihoods, women’s empowerment, and community infrastructure. Its CSR initiatives have positively impacted more than 1.50 lakh people to date, reflecting a sustained commitment to grassroots-led development and community partnership in the region’s socio-economic progress.
