The Dalmia Bharat Limited (DBL)'s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm, Dalmia Bharat Foundation (DBF) has partnered with Odisha Skill Development Authority (OSDA) to launch DIKSHa (Dalmia Institute of Knowledge and Skill Harnessing) centres in four districts including Cuttack, Jajpur, Sundargarh and Jharsuguda.
The DIKSHa centres will offer Assistant Electrician, General Duty Assistant, Industrial Sewing Machine Operator, Retail Sales Associates courses to candidates as well as assist in employment opportunities in various firms within and outside the State to those that successfully complete their training.
“Since its inception, DIKSHa has been positively impacting lives of the youth and the communities, at large. This is because we believe in a shared purpose of not just imparting training to the future of our nation but to also make our people employable and self-dependent,” said Executive Director, DCBL and Unit Head – Rajgangpur Chetan Shrivastav .
The DBL launched the skill training development initiative in 2017 and till date 3,357 youth have completed training of which 2,453 are successfully employed in various organisations. This has significantly lifted the social and financial status of the youth and have gained employment in firms including Westside, KITEX Ltd, Shahi Exports Ltd, Color Jersey Ltd, PORTEA Medical, 2050 Healthcare and RenewSys India Private Limited.
Within the last five years, 530 youth from Kheramuta, Rumabahal villages located on the periphery of the cement manor’s Rajgangpur plant and Lanjiberna Limestone mines have been successfully trained and employed. Assessing the benefits of the initiative, NABARD and DBF have also come together to impart CRM training to 55 youth in Rajganagpur and surrounding communities in two phases.
In line with the company’s women empowerment programme, the company has opened tailoring and beauty and wellness training centres for women and girls belonging to rural areas of Lanjiberna and Rajgangpur to create self-employment opportunities. The company now plans to extend these courses in the near future. DBF currently boasts of 14 skill development centres across India and has a training capacity of over 5,000.
