UltraTech Empowers Rural Youth through Digital and Vocational Skill training

This World Youth Skills Day, UltraTech reaffirms its commitment to empowering rural youth with the skills needed for gainful employment, entrepreneurship and economic success through numerous skill development initiatives across its manufacturing units, aiming to help foster sustainable livelihoods and economic independence within the communities UltraTech operates in.

Giving and caring is part of a generational legacy that courses through the veins of the Aditya Birla Group. This is also channelised through impactful projects that provide for sustainable livelihood. The objective is to train people in ways of eking out means to stand on their own feet, and live a life of dignity and self-esteem. Over one lakh people have benefited from skills training through the Group’s various initiatives.

At UltraTech, in sync with the Group’s developmental vision, this philosophy is the DNA of our company. UltraTech undertakes extensive programmes catering to diverse career aspirations in its operating communities, ensuring employability and access to sustainable livelihoods. UltraTech tailors its comprehensive training programmes based on local needs and to help foster an environment of continuous learning.

UltraTech’s youth skill development programmes fall under two broad categories – digital skill development, and vocational training. UltraTech’s digital literacy programmes aim to provide fundamental knowledge of computer and software operations, as well as internet usage. These programmes are crucial to help bridge the digital divide, and ensure that every young person can engage with the digital world. These, paired with unit-led IT literacy courses, cover a wide range of topics, such as computer skills, internet safety and advanced IT applications, helping increase proficiency in using technology effectively and responsibly.

Recognising the importance of vocational skills, UltraTech also offers numerous training programmes that cater to different careers paths and interests, such as electrical work, plumbing, carpentry, stitching and tailoring or parlour training. These have, over the past years, helped trainees to secure employment or establish businesses along their chosen paths. In FY25 alone, UltraTech has helped train 3000 rural youth through employable skills.

Baga Cement Works, UltraTech’s integrated cement manufacturing unit in Solan, Himachal Pradesh, helps empower rural youth and women through three skill development centres — computer literacy, stitching & tailoring, and newly added in 2025, parlour training. In FY25, the initiative has trained around 270 people in its training centres, equipping them with practical skills, tools, and the platform to earn a livelihood and build micro-enterprises.

Understanding the importance of women empowerment, Hirmi Cement Works, one of UltraTech’s integrated cement manufacturing unit in Baloda Bazar, Chhattisgarh, has been consistently working towards the upliftment of rural women through focused skill development training programmes, such as tailoring and beautician training. Over 200 women have received training under these programmes, enabling them to find or start their own employment. Hirmi also helps foster Self-Help Groups (SHG), and has a dedicated SHG shop which has been established in the unit township. Around 250 women are part of 18 Self Help Groups, participating in community awareness, social support activities, and economic development.

Another of UltraTech’s integrated cement manufacturing unit in Baloda Bazar, Rawan Cement Works, undertakes numerous skill development programmes in its area, across training programmes such as tailoring and dress making, computer literacy, GST calculation and tally, as well as plumber training programmes and heavy motor vehicle operation. In FY25, almost 250 people participated in Rawan’s various skill development programmes.

Gujarat Cement Works, an integrated cement manufacturing unit of UltraTech located in Amreli district, Gujarat, aims to create long-term value for communities by enabling access to skills, opportunities, and dignified livelihoods. It conducts advanced beautician training programmes, with an upgraded centre and a modern beautician lab. Equipped with professional tools such as facial machines, waxing kits, steamers and dryers, this programme has enabled trainees to receive an industry-standard grooming education, helping them launch their own ventures or seek employment in salons. Over 70 people have received training in FY25 in the unit’s tailoring, beautician, handwork, and computer literacy programmes.

Reddipalayam Cement Works, UltraTech’s integrated cement manufacturing unit in Ariyalur district, Tamil Nadu, conducts numerous skill development programmes such as tailoring and driving training. In addition to these, the unit also conducts many other income generation programmes (IGP) to equip local youth with the skills needed to start their own businesses, such as training on the manufacture and processing of phenyl, sambrani, camphor, and coffee powder production. Over the past several years, the unit’s tailoring training programme has successfully trained over 1000 women from the surrounding villages, with over 400 of them having started their own businesses at home.

UltraTech’s commitment to skill development initiatives across its units showcases its dedication to the empowerment of rural youth by fostering sustainable development. Through its vocational training initiatives, creation of self-employment opportunities and nurturing of technical skills, UltraTech is helping shape a more prosperous future for local youth and thereby empowering rural communities.