Shillong, Feb 26: Dalmia Bharat Foundation (DBF), the CSR arm of Dalmia Bharat Ltd. (DBL), in partnership with Jaintia Eastern College, inaugurated a new DIKSHa Centre(Dalmia Institute of Knowledge and Skill Harnessing)and Entrepreneurship Cell (E-Cell) at Khliehriat, Meghalaya today.

The DIKSHa Jaintia Eastern College Centre aims to empower youth with job-ready skills and encourage entrepreneurship for sustainable livelihoods.

It will commence its inaugural Beauty Care course with its first batch of 30 students, while the E-Cell will support in developing business ideas into successful ventures.

This is the launch of the fourth DIKSHa Centre in the Northeast, strengthening DBF’s commitment to bridging the skill gap in the region. To date, 1,200 students have completed training from DIKSHa centers in the Northeast, with 890 successfully placed in various industries.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Violet Lyngdoh, MDC, Khliehriat-Rymbai constituency, along with Felicity Wann, Assistant Commissioner, Additional Deputy Commissioner, East Jaintia Hills district.

“Our association with Meghalaya is built on a shared vision of progress and empowerment. Through livelihood programs, social initiatives, and sustainability efforts, Dalmia Bharat is committed to creating a meaningful impact and improving the lives of local communities. The DIKSHa Centre in Meghalaya marks an important step in this journey, equipping youth with the skills to build a better future. We sincerely thank Jaintia Eastern College and the Meghalaya Government for their invaluable support in making this initiative possible” said, Ashok Kumar Gupta, CEO, of Dalmia Bharat Foundation.

DIKSHa is a placement-linked, short-term skill training program for youth and women, enabling them to enter the workforce and improve their earning potential. Currently, the program operates 21 centers across India, offering training in diverse fields such as healthcare, industrial sewing machine operation, data entry, and solar PV installation.

It has trained over 16,000 individuals to date, with graduates earning monthly wages between Rs. 8,000 and Rs. 20,000.

Notably, 75 percent of trainees have secured employment or launched their own businesses, and more than 50 percent are women—reinforcing DIKSHa’s commitment to gender equality and female empowerment.

Dalmia Bharat Foundation focuses on building sustainable livelihoods and ensuring rural development in its program areas.

These programs combine in-depth, long-term plans and strategies along with medium- and short-term initiatives and campaigns.

Owing to the great differences across locations, DBF has adopted a flexible, multi-intervention approach that allows programs and people to grow together and sustain each other. The two focus areas have been derived from the felt needs of the community and issues material to the business.