India’s largest iron ore producer NMDC Limited has achieved 100% placement for its first batch of 80 tribal youth from Bastar, Chhattisgarh, under its CSR-led skill development initiative—marking a significant step towards Atmanirbhar Bastar and inclusive nation building.
The job-oriented training programme was implemented in partnership with the Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering & Technology (CIPET) to equip unemployed and underprivileged youth with industry-relevant skills and sustainable livelihood opportunities.
The felicitation ceremony was attended by NMDC Chairman & Managing Director Amitava Mukherjee, Vinay Kumar, Director (Technical) and Director (Commercial – Additional Charge), Joydeep Dasgupta, Director (Production) and Director (Personnel – Additional Charge), P Shyam, GM (CSR), and B. Ravi, Principal Director, CIPET, along with senior officials from both organisations.
The trainees hailed from remote districts including Dantewada, Bastar, Sukma, Narayanpur, Kondagaon and Bijapur. Many spoke about overcoming economic hardship and social barriers, saying the programme not only provided employment but also the confidence to pursue independent careers beyond their hometowns.
Sukhram, a Class 12 graduate from Bastar, shared how the opportunity has transformed his family’s prospects. “I never knew how I would leave my hometown. Today, I am going to work and earn,” he said.
Addressing the gathering, NMDC CMD Amitava Mukherjee said the placements reflect the power of opportunity. “This is not just about jobs. It is about young people realising they belong in the workforce and in India’s growth story,” he said, adding that skilling youth remains central to building an Atmanirbhar Bastar and a more inclusive Viksit Bharat.
Vinay Kumar highlighted NMDC’s long-standing role in Chhattisgarh’s development, while Joydeep Dasgupta described the placements as a crucial stepping stone, encouraging students to continue learning and aspire to become future entrepreneurs.
Notably, the programme maintained inclusive eligibility criteria, accepting candidates with qualifications as low as Class 8 to ensure school dropouts and economically weaker youth were not excluded. All 80 sponsored candidates from the inaugural batch have now been successfully placed—underscoring the impact and effectiveness of NMDC’s CSR-driven skilling model.
