Chennai, July 25, 2025: Dalmia Bharat Foundation (DBF), the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of leading cement company, Dalmia Bharat Ltd, inaugurated a new Skill Development Centre – DIKSHa (Dalmia Institute of Knowledge and Skill Harnessing)inChennai in partnership with Athulya Assisted Living Private Limited, a leader in senior care services.
As part of the inauguration, a virtual signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was held between Mr. Ashok Kumar Gupta, CEO, DBF and Mr. Srinivasan G, Founder & CEO Athulya Senior Care to formalize the partnership and its shared goal of creating career-ready healthcare professionals.
The centre will begin with training 150 youth annually in the General Duty Assistant (GDA) role through a blend of 30 days of classroom instruction and 60 days of on-the-job training at Athulya’s assisted living facilities. The program is aligned with NSDC standards and includes accommodation, meals, uniforms, and stipends during the internship. Upon successful completion, trainees will receive NSDC certification and formal job offers with starting salaries between ₹12,000 and ₹18,000 per month. The inauguration program was attended by the management of Athulya Assisted Living Private Limited, Dr. Venkatesan, Principal, Dr. Kiran Kumar, Programme Director and Mr. Paneer Chelvam, VP, HR and officials of Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Limited.
Reinforcing its commitment to skill-based education and sustainable livelihoods, Mr. Ashok Gupta, CEO Dalmia Bharat Foundation said “This initiative is a testament to our belief that meaningful partnerships can drive long-term social change. With Chennai’s healthcare sector on a steady growth trajectory, this DIKSHa centre will be a step towards bridging the skill gap while creating dignified employment opportunities for the youth”
Currently, 23 DIKSHa centres operate across India, offering training in sectors such as healthcare, beauty therapy, electrical work, data entry, and solar installation. To date, over 25,000 youth have been trained under the program, with approximately 75% securing employment or becoming self-employed. Notably, over half the trainees are women, reflecting DIKSHa’s emphasis on inclusive development. The DIKSHa centre in Chennai marks not just the expansion of DBF’s skilling footprint, but a shared commitment to building a resilient, job-ready healthcare workforce rooted in community and care.
About Dalmia Bharat Foundation:
Dalmia Bharat Foundation focuses on building Sustainable Livelihoods and ensure 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. Visit us at http://www.dalmiabharatfoundation.org.