Impressive success of Vedanta University Project sponsored industrial trainees

Oct. 27, 2009 - PRLog -- 27-10-2009, Puri: The Vedanta University Project sponsored trainees have done exceedingly well in their 1st year term ending examination at Sri Industrial Training Centre, Patrapada, Bhubaneswar where  they are pursuing a two-year industrial training certificate course. Whereas the average mark scored by these trainees is more than 60 %, Sridhar Baral and Rajendra Sahoo have been able to top the list in the Electrician and Fitter trade, respectively, from amongst 126 students in each category. Expressing happiness about his success, Rajendra Sahoo of Chaittana village who has topped in the Fitter trade, says, “I am extremely thankful to Vedanta University Project for giving us the opportunity to pursue such a professional course. We are sure that with sincere efforts we can find good jobs and do well in life.” Sridhar Baral of Kantigorada village, who has topped in the Electrician trade, nods in agreement.

Since last year, 38 young people from the project impacted families have been sponsored by the Vedanta University Project of Anil Agarwal Foundation for a two-year industrial training course at Sri Industrial Training Centre, Bhubaneswar.  Out of these 38 sponsored students, 19 have been admitted in the Electrician trade and the remaining 19 have been admitted in the Fitter trade. The main objective of this initiative is to equip these youths with some employment oriented technical skills so that they can find better earning opportunities. This is part of the on-going community development/empowerment initiatives of the Vedanta University project and Anil Agarwal Foundation is taking care of all expenses of these sponsored students. These students have been doing quite well in their studies and extracurricular activities, and their performance in the regular monthly examinations has been impressive also.

Along with the technical training and the usual extracurricular activities like sports and yoga, care is also taken to develop the personality of the students and their social consciousness, by involving them in various community welfare programmes. As the Principal of the industrial training centre says, “The idea of this training is not only to provide technical education to the students but also to develop their soft skills for an improved personality. That is why, these students are actively taking part in activities like blood donation, flood relief, etc”. As part of their training programme, the students are also sent on exposure trips to different organizations in order to gain hands-on job experience. During the last academic term, the students of Fitter Trade have visited Hirakud Power Project and the students of Electrician Trade have visited Gopalpur Port.

It may be noted here that Anil Agarwal Foundation, a not-for-profit philanthropic organization established by the Chairman of Vedanta Resources Plc, is setting up a world class, multidisciplinary University near Puri that will provide quality higher education to 100, 000 students in 95 academic disciplines. While endeavouring to build this University, the Vedanta University Project of Anil Agarwal Foundation is also taking up various community development initiatives in the areas of health, education, livelihood, peripheral development, sports and culture, in order to enrich the life of the people residing in the vicinity. The much appreciated SAFAL (Sustainable Action for Farmers’ Livelihood) and the provision of industrial training for the youths of project impacted families, are amongst the initiatives currently undertaken in the livelihood sector. The success of Vedanta University Project sponsored industrial trainees underscores the point that given the right opportunity, people and especially the youth will be able to make good use of their talent and do well in life.

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The proposed University is going to be set up near Puri, Orissa at a cost of Rs 15, 000 crores. Mr. Anil Agarwal, Chairman< vedanta Resources Plc has pledged an amount of $ 1 billion to initiate the project. The University will be a not-for-profit one.