Aditya Alumina Refinery readying local girls for Apparel Factory, a Centro of Excellence in Rayagada district
Rayagada (Badal Tah): In a significant stride towards fostering inclusive development and women’s empowerment, Aditya Alumina Refinery, Kansariguda-a green field mining unit of Hindalco Industries Limited of Aditya Birla Group, formally launched and onboarded its first batch of Apparel Training Program at Phuljoba on last Friday.
The Apparel Manufacturing Unit, being established alongside the Refinery and Power Plant at Kansariguda village with an investment of Rs.8000 crores, aims to create employment opportunities for women and girls from nearby communities. This initiative is expected to generate employment of more than 500 women in the initial phase substantially contributing to the socio-economic growth of the region.
The Apparel Training Program was formally inaugurated by Mazhar Beig, Unit Head & President of Aditya Alumina Refinery, in the presence of Sarpanches from Naktiguda, Bankamba, Podapadi, and Odiapentha, RPDAC members, community leaders and villagers from periphery.
As part of the program, the first batch of over 100 women and girls from surrounding villages have been onboarded through a structured process that included written test, skill assessments and counselling sessions. These trainees will undergo an intensive eight-month hands-on training at Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited (ABFRL) units in Bhubaneswar and New Delhi. Upon successful completion, they will serve as master trainers, supervisors, lab technicians, operators based on their qualification and skills.
“The inauguration of this Apparel Training Program and onboarding of the first batch of women mark a transformative moment for our community development efforts.By equipping women with practical skills and real-world industry exposure, we are not only creating employment opportunities but also empowering them towards a dignified and independent future. I am confident that the Apparel Manufacturing Unit at Phuljoba will play a key role in addressing local employment needs”, said Beig.
The enthusiasm among the newly onboarded trainees was evident from the following statements. “Today is a very special day for us. For many of us, this is the first time we are stepping into a structured training program, bringing new hope to our families and villages,” said Kunti Jani from Kansariguda. Rajani Majhi of Phuljoba shared, “We are grateful to Aditya Alumina Refinery for believing in our potentialities and giving us this life-changing opportunity.” Binati Bagh from Puhundi added, “Receiving professional training from the Aditya Birla Group is beyond our imagination. We promise to learn with full dedication and manufacture garments of international standards at Phuljoba.”
The initiative was highly appreciated by the local communities, reinforcing Aditya Alumina Refinery’s commitment to building a sustainable, inclusive future for the region. “Before establishment of the refinery plant, the company of Birla repute, committed to establish this apparel unit, which will certainly be a Centre of Excellence. They kept their word. We are extremely happy that the Unit has initiated to buid capacity of local youths and upgrade the existing skills and knowledge to create huge employment opportunity. This has shown the way. Similar kind of initiatives and Centres of Excellence must be replicated by other industries present in Rayagada district”, said Bijaya Dash, a jubilant youth from Kashipur.
