Geeta korba block reporter

(KORBA-BALCO)In the industrial landscape of Chhattisgarh, a quiet yet powerful transformation is taking shape. Young women who once faced limited employment opportunities are now entering factories, technical workshops, hospitality services, and emerging technology sectors.

At the centre of this change is BALCO’s Vedanta Skill School, where structured training and industry exposure are equipping women with employable skills and the confidence to step into the workforce. For many, this journey is not only about securing a job, it is about reshaping the future of their families and communities.

“For me, skill training at Vedanta Skill School became a pathway to financial independence,” says Pooja Sotkar, whose journey reflects resilience in the face of adversity. “I lost my parents at a young age and was raised at a girls’ shelter in Korba. I was always curious about how electronic systems functioned,” she recounts. That curiosity led her to enrol in the Mobile Phone Hardware Repair Technician programme at Vedanta Skill School. The training eventually opened doors at Tata Electronics in Bengaluru, where she now works as an operator with a starting annual CTC of over ₹2,00,000 along with additional benefits, helping her build a stable and independent future.

Kajal Sandey from Godhi village in Korba represents another dimension of this transformation. Entering a field traditionally dominated by men, she pursued technical training after completing her ITI in Electrical. “I joined the skill school to gain practical industry exposure. Training in electrical systems, workplace safety, and technical tools prepared me for the industrial environment,” she explains. Kajal later secured an apprenticeship opportunity at BALCO and today holds supervisory responsibilities, fulfilling a dream she once considered distant.

For Manisha Ratre, the training opened doors to the service industry. “I am grateful to Vedanta Skill School for training me as a Food and Beverage Service Steward and building my confidence to work in the hospitality sector. Because of this exposure, I have become the primary earning member of my family and am also supporting my younger sister’s education,” she says.

Meanwhile, Purnima Ratre from Janjgir-Champa highlights the growing connection between skill development and the green economy. “Through the Solar PV Installer program, I learned the fundamentals of solar panel installation and electrical systems. The training equipped me to enter the growing renewable energy ecosystem,” she says. Purnima has now secured a placement at Foxconn Precision Engineering in Bengaluru, marking the beginning of her professional journey.

The impact of this initiative extends beyond job placements. With a growing emphasis on women’s participation, the program has enabled young women from rural and semi-urban communities to secure employment in leading industries across India, gradually reshaping social perceptions. As they enter diverse workplaces, they reflect how skill development, opportunity, and aspiration can collectively redefine the future of India’s workforce.

Vedanta Skill School is a five-star rated SMART centre by the Government of India, accredited by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and Sector Skills Councils (SSC). Since 2010, the institution has trained more than 14,000 rural youth, of which over 70% were women. The skill development facility offers free residential training across seven trades, including Sewing Machine Operator, Electrician, Welding, Hospitality, Fitter & Alignment, Solar PV Technician, and Mobile Repair Operator. The program emphasises holistic development through sessions on communication, workplace safety, legal rights, menstrual health, along with mentorship from experienced BALCO employees making them placement ready for opportunities in companies across India.