IB Thermal, 21.09.2025: In a pioneering step towards empowering rural youth, OPGC has launched its first-of-its-kind CSR initiative in skill development, enabling young boys and girls from villages around the IB Thermal Power Station to pursue technical training at Government ITI, Hirakud, with complete financial support from OPGC.
In a special event held today at IB Club of Ib Thermal Power Station, Minister, Revenue & Disaster Management Shri Suresh Pujari felicitated the students who have taken admission is Hirakud ITI sponsored by OPGC, in the presence of OPGC Managing Director Sri Kedar Ranjan Pandu and Director-Operation Shri Anjana Ranjan Dash. On this occasion, students were felicitated by the Minister with gifts and certificates.
For the academic session 2025–26, a total of 29 students (13 girls and 16 boys) from the gram panchayats of Telenpali (3 students), Kumbharbandh (15 students), Tilia (4 students), Remenda (5 students) and Kushraloi (2 students) have been successfully enrolled in diverse ITI trades such as Instrument Mechanic (Chemical Plant)-4 students, Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Technician-5 students, Dress Making-13 students (Girls), and Welder-7 students. in his address at the event, the Revenue & D.M. Minister, Sri Pujari lauded the CSR activities taken up by OPGC and also urged to include more such developmental activities in the CSR programme of OPGC.
This project is designed to support underprivileged students from peripheral villages by removing financial barriers and providing them an opportunity to acquire industry-relevant skills. The sponsorship covers admission charges, tuition fees, hostel accommodation, and monthly mess expenses. In his address Director-Operation Sri A, R Dash said the core objective of this programme is to equip local youth with employable skills, thereby enhancing their chances of securing jobs in industries within Jharsuguda district and beyond. With a long-term vision, OPGC plans to continue this initiative as a regular and evolving CSR activity, expanding its scope in line with future requirements, he said. Managing Director Sri Kedar Ranjan Pandu highlighted the recent achievements OPGC has accomplished in the technical efficiency of power generation, digitization of power generation processes etc. which has led to OPGC being recognized at national stage as a major technological advance company of the Country.
Minister also digitally inaugurated seven recently built rural infrastructure development projects done by OPGC under CSR programme which include newly built community centres at Dhobadera in Telenpali GP (Rs.14.68 Lakh), Renovation of Prasanna Kumar Panda Memorial High School at Banharpali and Arjun Gupta Girls High School at Phatapali in Tilia GP (at a Total cost of Rs.22.50 lakh), Kitchen facility at Binka Primary School (At Rs.10.93 lakh), Repair work of road from Telenpali to Khadam done at a cost of Rs.2.20 crore, Community Centres at Kishanpada in Kumbharbandh GP, at Pondri in Pondri GP, and at Jharmunda in Kubharbandh GP ( with expenditure of Rs.18.43 Lakh each).
Among others, Sri Sukanta Mohapatra, Sr. Vice President (Operation), Sri Subashish Mukherjee- Head (HR&IR), Sri Satyapriya Behera-Plant Manager-OPGC units 1 &2 and Sri Sudhakar Swain-Plant Manager-OPGC Units 3&4 were present.
