BALCO Empowers the Local Youth Through Holistic Development Initiatives
Balconagar, February 6th, 2024: Recognizing the pivotal role of empowered youth in shaping the foundation of a prosperous nation, Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO), India’s iconic aluminium producer and a unit of Vedanta Aluminium, consistently demonstrates its dedication to empowering the youth by prioritizing skill development and educational support, along with engaging them through community outreach sessions.
At the heart of BALCO’s youth-focused initiatives is the Vedanta Skill School, a catalyst for transforming the lives of rural youth, school dropouts, and the unemployed populace. Since its inception, this initiative has positively impacted over 11,000 young individuals, equipping them with invaluable skills. The free residential training program covers six essential trades, providing technical education while placing a strong emphasis on life skills such as communication, safety, legal rights, and menstrual health.
Pratibha, a student at Vedanta Skill School who is now employed in a leading textile company, expressed her gratitude, stating, “Enrolling in the Vedanta Skill School has been one of the best decisions of my life. I am deeply thankful to BALCO and the school for making me financially independent, which is helping me take care of my family. The institute has been instrumental in transforming my life and making me self-reliant.”
BALCO has consistently strived to create a conducive learning environment for underprivileged youths by providing guidance and support to more than 2500 students in grade 10th and 12th through remedial classes, personalized tutoring, career guidance sessions, in addition to helping them with board exam preparations on SEMA subjects (Science, English, Mathematics, and Accounts) under its ‘Project Connect’.
Furthermore, through initiatives like ‘Science Mitras’ and summer & winter camps, employees from BALCO volunteer as mentors and facilitators for students, sharing their expertise and real-world insights to help students develop market-relevant skills, providing them with critical innovative and problem-solving mindset. This comprehensive approach ensures a well-rounded development of the youth.
Shivani Rathore, an eighteen-year-old student, who was part of Project Connect, said, “Project Connect played an instrumental role in my academic journey. With the support I received, I was able to score 86% in the 12th State Board Examinations. This initiative assisted me through regular and remedial English classes, significantly boosting my knowledge of the subject.”
Shivani also highlighted the profound impact of ‘Project Nayi Kiran’ on her life, an initiative that empowers young individuals to contribute to building a stronger community by raising awareness about the importance of menstrual health and its effective management. She stated, “Project Nayi Kiran has played a pivotal role in my overall development and heightened awareness regarding menstrual health. Today, I proudly serve as a Menstrual Health Management (MHM) leader, actively contributing to positive change within the community.”
Youth, often hailed as the torchbearers of change, hold a crucial role in shaping the values of the developing world. Hence, quality education and the right skills are critical in shaping the future of the nation. Realizing this, BALCO has demonstrated consistent commitment to implementing comprehensive skill development programs for its young employees, that constitute nearly 20% of the workforce, to align with the demands of the fast-paced global landscape. Through the production of aluminium – the ‘Metal of the Future’, BALCO’s young workforce is driving vital change, required to keep up with the ever-evolving world.
Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO) is India’s iconic aluminium producer. It is owned 51% by Vedanta Limited and 49% by the Government of India. BALCO is part of Vedanta’s Aluminium Business, a division of Vedanta Limited, which is India’s largest manufacturer of aluminium. Vedanta Aluminium ranks 1st in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2023 world rankings for the aluminium industry, a reflection of its sustainable development practices. BALCO operates a 0.57 million tonne per annum aluminium smelter in Korba, Chhattisgarh. It is also a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. With its world-class smelter and power plants, the company fulfills its mission of spurring emerging applications of aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener tomorrow.
About Vedanta Limited
Vedanta Limited, a subsidiary of Vedanta Resources Limited, is one of the world’s leading Oil & Gas and Metals company with significant operations in Oil & Gas, Zinc, Lead, Silver, Copper, Iron Ore, Steel, and Aluminium & Power across India, South Africa, Namibia, and Australia. For two decades, Vedanta has been contributing significantly to nation building. Governance and sustainable development are at the core of Vedanta's strategy, with a strong focus on health, safety, and environment. Giving back is in the DNA of Vedanta, which is focused on enhancing the lives of local communities. Under the aegis of Vedanta Cares, the flagship social impact program, Nand Ghars have been set up as model anganwadis focused on eradicating child malnutrition, providing education, healthcare, and empowering women with skill development. Vedanta and its group companies have been featured in Dow Jones Sustainability Index 2020, and were conferred Frost & Sullivan Sustainability Awards 2020, CII Environmental Best Practices Award 2020, CSR Health Impact Award 2020, CII National Award 2020 for Excellence in Water Management, CII Digital Transformation Award 2020, ICSI National Award 2020 for excellence in Corporate Governance, People First HR Excellence Award 2020, ‘Company with Great Managers 2020’ by People Business and certified as a Great Place to Work 2021. Vedanta’s flagship Nand Ghar Project was identified as best CSR project by the Government of Rajasthan. Vedanta Limited is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange in India and has ADRs listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
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