Assam: NRL imparts skill development training to 60 youths
Dibrugarh: Over 60 young people from Assam have received specialised skill development training from Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL), enabling them to secure jobs in India’s energy sector.
“This project is a transformative skill development initiative aimed at empowering over 60 young people from Assam by equipping them with specialized competencies that align with India’s rapidly expanding energy sector.
Structured as a 6-month residential training program delivered in two batches of 3 months each, the first batch ran from 1 September 2025 to 30 November 2025, and 1 December 2025 marks the beginning of Batch 2, which will also run for three months, concluding on 28 February 2026,” said an NRL official.
He added, “The project seeks to address a critical skills gap in the piped natural gas distribution ecosystem while providing a meaningful pathway out of underemployment and unemployment for youth, particularly those from marginalized and under-resourced backgrounds.”
“By offering hands-on technical training following a two-month classroom learning period, the project prepares trainees to become valuable contributors to local economies and drivers of sustainable community growth,” he said.
India’s natural gas infrastructure underscores the urgency of such an initiative, as it spans over 34,000 km of authorised pipelines serving more than 15.3 million domestic connections as of March 2025, and it continues to grow at an annual rate exceeding 8%.
Despite this rapid expansion, fewer than 1% of plumbers in India have received formal training to work safely and efficiently with gas distribution systems, even though the sector requires over 1.2 million skilled technicians to meet current and future demand.
The timing of this project is therefore critical, as India targets increasing the share of natural gas in its energy basket from around 6% to 15% by 2030, driving strong demand for qualified workers who can ensure safety, reliability and compliance in this growing sector.
Funded through the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme of Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL), a major player in India’s oil and gas sector, the project leverages the infrastructure and expertise of the Industrial Training Institute (ITI) Majuli as a delivery partner for the residential training and internship components.
This CSR-based partnership reflects a broader trend of corporate India channeling resources to support national and regional skill development missions like “Skill India”. Through this collaboration, the project ensures industry relevance and a focus on inclusive development.
MMGLD has conceived this project to leverage the strengths of diverse stakeholders, bringing together expertise, resources and networks into a cohesive model that synthesizes complementary strengths.
MMGLD facilitates overall project coordination, manages training logistics, oversees process documentation and drives outreach efforts to ensure the initiative’s successful execution.
The organisation has envisioned this project as a pilot with the aim of scaling it into a larger model that can deliver lasting benefits to the region and its people.
The impact of this initiative extends far beyond employment metrics. It plays a vital role in promoting cleaner and safer energy access. Graduates of the program emerge as empowered agents in their communities, often catalyzing entrepreneurship, social upliftment and local infrastructure improvements.
The program’s inclusive design fosters community development by offering meaningful career pathways to youth, helping break cycles of limited opportunity and economic stagnation.
In alignment with India’s strategic energy and economic development goals, this project exemplifies how CSR initiatives can act as catalysts for broad socio-economic change.
By blending corporate resources, government priorities, local infrastructure and a collaborative spirit, it helps create a resilient workforce prepared to meet today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities, delivering long-lasting benefits to individuals, communities and the nation.