Mumbai, May 1, 2024: Dalmia Bharat Foundation (DBF), the corporate social responsibility arm of Dalmia Bharat Ltd. (DBL) and Karur Vysya Bank (KVB) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), aimed at empowering rural youth through skill development. This collaboration will focus on enhancing employability skills and sustainable livelihood opportunities for 400 rural youth across the Southern states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka. Under the terms of the MoU, Karur Vysya Bank, as part of its CSR initiatives, will extend financial support for two financial years till FY25. This support will enable Dalmia Bharat Foundation to implement a comprehensive skill development program through its DIKSHa centres located in Belgaum, Kadapa and Dalmiapuram in the Southern states of its operation. The program will focus on providing short-term skill training courses in areas such as apparel manufacturing, construction, healthcare, IT-enabled services, beauty & wellness, among others. Through this initiative, the aim is to equip individuals with the necessary skills to secure gainful employment opportunities and contribute to the economic growth of their communities.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Ashok Gupta, CEO, Dalmia Bharat Foundation stated, “At, Dalmia Bharat we are committed to enabling social transformation and creating sustainable livelihoods for the nation’s youth. We are pleased to collaborate with Karur Vysya Bank in our shared commitment to youth empowerment and community development. By imparting skills and creating opportunities, we aspire to empower young individuals in the region to achieve self-reliance and contribute to India’s sustainable future.”
DIKSHa, the flagship project from Dalmia Bharat Foundation provides placement-linked, short-term skill training to youth and women, adding them to skilled workforce for enhanced income. There are 19 centres spread across 10 states of their operation. Till date, DIKSHa has trained 15709 individuals successfully with more than 11435 individuals placed in gainful employment, earning monthly wages ranging from INR 8,000 to INR 20,000. DBF has further expanded partnerships to include the State Skill Development Missions of Odisha and Karnataka, as well as collaborations with organizations like NABARD, NBCFDC, OSDA, BOSCH, Schneider Electric, etc.