Rourkela: A tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on October 22, 2026, to strengthen skill development, entrepreneurship and livelihood opportunities for Scheduled Tribe (ST) youth through the Livelihood Business Incubation Centre in Rourkela, Odisha.
The agreement brings together the National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC), under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs; the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC), under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME); and Steel Authority of India Limited’s (SAIL) Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP), under the Ministry of Steel.
Established in 2018, the centre has benefited more than 600 students, several of whom have established their own businesses in trades such as bakery production, mushroom cultivation, tailoring and beauty services. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has also recognised the facility as a Centre of Excellence.
Three Organisations Join Hands to Promote Tribal Entrepreneurship
The MoU aims to strengthen the centre’s role in equipping local ST youth with practical skills and helping them establish sustainable livelihood activities.
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The initiative combines training, entrepreneurship development and ongoing guidance to improve trainees’ confidence, productivity and ability to run small businesses.
The collaboration involves three government-linked organisations operating under different Union ministries:
- NSTFDC: Supports the centre’s recurring expenses through grants from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
- NSIC: Supports the initiative through its involvement in skill development and the incubation framework.
- SAIL’s Rourkela Steel Plant: Provides the site for the centre and participates in the collaborative initiative.
The centre’s plant and machinery have been installed under the MSME Ministry’s ASPIRE scheme.
Six Training Courses Offered to ST Youth
The centre provides vocational training in trades intended to help participants acquire employable skills or start their own enterprises.
Courses listed for the current year include:
- Assistant Beautician
- Self-Employed Tailor
- Assistant Computer Operator (Tally and Accounting)
- Assistant Electrician
- Bread and Bakery Manufacturing
- Mushroom Farming
The centre has also offered training in welding technology, furniture manufacturing, soya milk extraction, tofu packaging, beauty services and bakery-related manufacturing.
These programmes are designed to help participants translate practical training into employment and small-business opportunities.
More Than 600 Trainees Have Benefited Since Establishment
Since its establishment in 2018, the Livelihood Business Incubation Centre has supported more than 600 students from the Scheduled Tribe community.
According to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, beneficiaries have gone on to establish businesses across several trades, including:
- Bakery and food-product manufacturing
- Mushroom cultivation
- Beauty parlours
- Tailoring services
The centre follows an approach that combines technical training with entrepreneurship development and handholding support. The objective is to help trainees build the skills and confidence needed to establish and sustain their own livelihood activities.
Centre Recognised as a Centre of Excellence
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has recognised the Rourkela facility as a Centre of Excellence, acknowledging its role in promoting vocational skills and entrepreneurship among ST youth.
The model brings together training infrastructure, technical resources and institutional support from organisations associated with three Union ministries.
The initiative also seeks to connect skill development with practical business requirements, including basic knowledge of finance, marketing and branding, which are important for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Officials Review Training and Future Plans
Officials from the participating organisations attended the MoU-related programme and held discussions on the centre’s functioning, trainee mobilisation and the progress of existing training modules.
Those present included T. Roumuan Paite, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Chairman-cum-Managing Director of NSTFDC, along with representatives of SAIL and NSIC.
An interactive session was also held with trainees and faculty members. Discussions focused on:
- Mobilising more candidates for training programmes.
- Reviewing the effectiveness of current courses.
- Addressing operational issues affecting the centre.
- Developing strategies to improve trainee participation and progress.
The renewed collaboration is intended to strengthen the centre’s contribution to skill development and sustainable livelihood creation among Scheduled Tribe youth in and around Rourkela.
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