ORMAS-OMC Skill Development Training Programme: Empowering Youth for Self-Reliance

Bhubaneswar: In a significant effort to address unemployment and empower youth in mining areas, ORMAS (Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society) and OMC (Odisha Mining Corporation) jointly launched a skill development training program. The initiative aims to provide job-oriented training to less-educated unemployed youth from economically disadvantaged families in mining regions across the state.

A special function was organized on the premises of the State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD) campus at Unit-8, Bhubaneswar, to celebrate the completion of skill development training by the first batch of trainees. The event, held on the occasion of International Women’s Day, witnessed the presence of Guha Punam Tapas Kumar, Director and Chief Executive Officer of ORMAS, and Aloy Kumar Pal, Human Resources Director of Odisha Mining Corporation.

During the program, trainees were advised to approach their workplace with determination and confidence, emphasizing personal responsibility and contributing to family financial development. The training program, currently in its first phase, has enrolled 390 young men and women across seven training centers in Jajpur, Rayagada, Sundergarh, and Bhubaneswar.

Approximately 90 trainees from the mining areas of Jajpur and Keonjhar districts, who completed the training in sewing machine operations and retail sales trade, shared their experiences during the event. After three months of intensive training, these individuals secured employment opportunities in private companies located in Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Sambalpur, Cuttack, among other places.

Punam Tapas Kumar encouraged the trainees to be examples of self-reliance and urged them to sensitize other unemployed youth in their communities about the benefits of the skill development scheme. The program included an interactive session where guests engaged with trainees, listened to their personal experiences, and provided guidance for their future endeavors.

To mark the occasion, Ormas distributed hygiene kit bags to all participating trainees. The successful implementation of the ORMAS-OMC Skill Development Training Programme underscores the commitment towards empowering youth, fostering self-reliance, and creating positive examples of collective societal development.