Students at the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, June 29: Once school drop-outs, at least 150 tribal youths from various remote districts of the state today boarded the Falaknama Express to reach Hyderabad. There they will start work on their first job.

For some of them, this will be their first train ride.

The tribal youths had been provided vocational training by the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences. They are now proud recipients of job offers from the Hyderabad-based SEW Infrastructure Ltd, a construction company.

The youths, all in their teens, had been hand-picked by the Kalinga institute for various types of vocational training.

Sunaram Hembrum from Mayurbhanj is 17. “My father is a farmer and I am the third among seven siblings. I dropped out from school after Class VI. Studies never interested me. I was simply wasting my time there in the village when the village head asked me and some others to apply for this vocational course,” said Hembrum.

When the 17-year-old told his parents about his job offer, they wouldn’t believe him.

“My parents did not believe me when I informed them about this job offer. They have hardly ever travelled beyond Mayurbhanj. This is the first time I’m boarding a train,” Hembrum said.

Others too were thrilled about their new jobs. “I am really thrilled about my new job. I want to thank from the bottom of my heart all those who made this possible for us. They have given me an opportunity I would not have dreamt of. This has changed my life,” said Kalidar Baura from Rayagada.

The construction company would train the students for three months before assigning them jobs, said SEW human resources chief M. Chakraberty.

“The youths will be working as land surveyors, site supervisors, construction supervisors, masons, rod binders, carpenters and so on,” said T.S. Babu, vice-president, SEW Infrastructure Ltd.

A minimum salary of Rs 5,500 has been fixed, besides food and accommodation at the company’s cost. Selected candidates will undergo training in two phases. In the first phase of 45 days, the students will be paid a stipend.

In the second phase, the tribal youths will undergo another 45-day training on the company premises with full salary. They will be eligible for other benefits such as provident fund, life insurance, mediclaim, annual bonus and so on.

For these tribal students, getting a job was nothing more than a distant dream.

“As a child, I would always watch students going to college and taking up jobs in engineering and so on. Some became doctors. I would always wish that I too would someday have a job like them. Going to work will be so much fun. Had I not been selected for this job, I would probably been a labourer somewhere,” said Bijay Purty, another tribal from Malkangiri.