NESTS-Tata Motors Pact to Skill Jharkhand Tribal Youth

A new collaboration between the National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) and Tata Motors Limited is set to open fresh opportunities for tribal youth in Jharkhand. The two institutions have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide skill-linked education and assured employment to students graduating from Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs).

The agreement, effective for five years, will bring Jharkhand’s EMRS students into Tata Motors’ Kaushalya Program. With over 70 EMRSs spread across districts like Khunti, Simdega, Gumla, West Singhbhum, and Dumka, the state is among the key beneficiaries in the first rollout phase.

Eligible Class 12 students aged between 18 and 23, with a minimum of 60 percent marks in Class 10, will be enrolled in the program. They will receive structured training that combines a Diploma in Engineering, classroom sessions through partner institutions, and on-the-job learning. The curriculum is aligned with the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF).

Students will also get stipends, subsidized meals and transport, uniforms, safety gear, and insurance cover. High performers may further their studies through industry-academic tie-ups, including BITS Pilani’s Work Integrated Learning Program.

To ensure outcomes, Tata Motors has committed to its “One Trainee, One Job” policy, offering placement assistance across its facilities, including the Jamshedpur plant. A Joint Review Committee with members from both NESTS and Tata Motors will monitor the program’s implementation.

According to estimates, the initiative will benefit over 50,000 tribal students across 28 states and 8 union territories. Jharkhand’s EMRS graduates will be at the forefront, marking a significant step in linking education to livelihood in one of India’s most tribal-populated states.