1000s of Northeast youths get jobs through OIL's 'Swabalamban' initiative

Tripura has been newly added to the project

Guwahati: Oil India through its 'Swabalamban' initiative has been providing placement-linked skill and capacity-building training to the youth from its operational areas in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh since 2013. So how successful is the programme?

Business North East recently reached out to Priyashree Goswami, Manager, Public Affairs (CSR), Oil India. "Till 2023, 20,241 people have been trained under the  'Swabalamban' banner and 16,459 of them have been placed in various organizations", she stated, adding that OIL is planning to train more than 1,200 individuals this year.

Business North East was informed that this year, the focus is on two courses - Hospitality Management and Front Office Executive. This year, the fund for the project is Rs. 7 crores.

These courses are of 3-month duration and provided in two Guwahati centers entirely free of cost. 

So, how are the trainees selected?

Mobilization programs are held in and around some selected locations - particularly in villages and tea gardens. Interested candidates can appear for a test meant for selection into the training program. The trainees primarily hail from Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Charaideo, and Sibsagar districts in Assam and the Changlang district in Arunachal Pradesh. This year, candidates will be selected from Tripura as well.

They have been placed in reputed organizations including Marriot and Radisson Blue hotels, according to OIL. "The average salary package for our placements is Rs. 22,000", Goswami informed. "The total placement percentage is 85-90 percent."

Many trainees have also been placed abroad in countries like Singapore, Abu Dhabi, the USA, the UK, Qatar, New Zealand, Germany, and Saudi Arabia, Business North East learned.

This project aims to provide sustainable employment opportunities to unemployed youths from OIL operational areas. Certificates are provided by the central government's National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).

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