UltraTech fosters sustainable livelihood opportunities through youth skill development

On the occasion of World Youth Skills Day, UltraTech Cement Limited reaffirms its commitment to youth empowerment, through training initiatives that are tailored to local needs. The Company fosters an environment of continuous learning and helps build sustainable, locally relevant livelihoods for youth across its areas of operation. Aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, these efforts work towards gainful employment and reduced gender disparities in the communities where UltraTech operates.

UltraTech's youth skilling portfolio spans technical employability through industrial training institutes (ITI) and trade training institutes, sustainable livelihood skills through vocational training centres, and micro-enterprise and local craft promotion through Self-Help Groups and market-linked models. Projects are identified through participatory rural appraisals at the Company's integrated manufacturing units, with local stakeholder consultation central to the process.

At Reddipalayam Cement Works in Ariyalur District, Tamil Nadu, over 980 beneficiaries have been trained since 2006-07 across various skill development programmes. Till date, the unit's tailoring programme alone has trained 640 people since 2006, of whom over 460 have gone on to employment or self-employment. Over the last two years, the unit has also introduced driver training programmes (for four-wheeler, heavy and commercial vehicles) and computer literacy courses, alongside training in the production of Phenoil, palm leaf plates and Sambrani, helping create avenues for sustained local employment opportunities.

Manikgarh Cement Works in Chandrapur, Maharashtra, upskilled almost 700 beneficiaries in FY25 and FY26. Nearly 400 girls and young women were trained through tailoring and beautician programmes, while over 230 people attended career guidance events for local youth to help navigate their future careers. Additionally, through its computer training programme, the unit has equipped over 40 people with job-ready skills in Windows, MS Office, AI productivity tools such as ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot, and internet browsing, as well as helped them prepare for the Maharashtra State Certificate in Information Technology (MS-CIT)

Maihar Cement Works in Maihar, Madhya Pradesh, trained almost 300 people in FY26 in sustainable livelihood activities including mobile phone repair services, beautician training, household electrical appliance repair, garment making and bamboo craft. Under the unit's flagship ‘Project Swavalamban’ (meaning self-reliance in English), close to 30 women were also trained in safety jacket stitching.

At Vikram Cement Works in Neemuch district, Madhya Pradesh, over 270 people took part in sustainable livelihood skill development programmes in FY26, spanning beautician training, garment stitching and technical training. Similarly, Gujarat Cement Works in Amreli District, Gujarat, facilitated the participation of over 250 beneficiaries in FY26 through programmes aimed at improving livelihood opportunities for local women and youth, including sewing and tailoring, beautician training, macramé and thread work, and AFR and waste management training.

Across FY25 and FY26, Jafrabad Cement Works, also in Amreli District, empowered over 190 women through Project Unnati, which offers basic sewing and beauty parlour training. Launched in February 2025, the programme equips women and youth from neighbouring villages with vocational skills, hands-on practice and starter support to earn a livelihood from home or set up their own micro-enterprises. Over 30 beneficiaries have already commenced self-employment across the villages of Babarkot, Rohisha and Balana.

Sewagram Cement Works in Kutch District, Gujarat, provided embroidery training to women and girls in its vicinity, with over 35 beneficiaries trained in Bandhani, a form of Kutchi embroidery — enabling several participants to earn a livelihood, with some articles fetching over Rs 5,000 each.

In addition, UltraTech has been creating a talent pool for local industries by providing youth with formal vocational education through its technical training model. Reinforcing talent pipelines in trades such as electrical, fitter, mechanical and electronics, the Kagina Private ITI at Rajashree Cement Works was set up in 2004, and the Sidhi Cement ITI was set up in 2011. Together, the two institutes trained nearly 200 students in FY26, promoting sustainable livelihood opportunities in their operating locations.

Skill development remains central to UltraTech's efforts to create pathways to economic independence and community resilience. By equipping youth across its operating geographies with job-relevant skills and livelihood opportunities, the Company continues to contribute to the building of more self-reliant communities.

UltraTech undertakes its social initiatives under the aegis of The Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development, chaired by Mrs. Rajashree Birla. The Company's CSR focus areas include education, healthcare, sustainable livelihoods, community infrastructure and social causes, reaching over 1.8 million beneficiaries across more than 500 villages in 16 states in India.