From Villages to Industries: How Vedanta Skill School is Transforming Women’s Future

Balconagar/ KORBA: 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.

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. 

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,” she says.

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.

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.