In order to upskill rural youth in the Vilathikulam and Pudur blocks of Thoothukudi district with digital technologies and related skills, the Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation (TNSDC) and the HCLFoundation, which leads the corporate social responsibility agenda of multinational technology company HCLTech in India, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

Over the following 36 months, the alliance hopes to train and position 2,500 adolescents from 95 local panchayats. In order to enable remote work options in the IT and ITES sectors, the programme will create creative employment models, such as establishing tiny workplaces at block headquarters. The conversion of skill development into long-term job possibilities will be guaranteed by an extensive placement tracking system.

“The Tamil Nadu government is dedicated to making sure that the advantages of industrial development are felt throughout the state, particularly in developing centres like Thoothukudi. This Memorandum of Understanding with HCLFoundation is an initiative to give young people in the area the tools they need to actively engage in the district’s changing economic environment. Our goal is to increase inclusion and decrease outbound migration by encouraging employment in the community, especially for women joining new and exciting fields. Thiru. Kranthi Kumar Pati, IAS, Managing Director, TNSDC, stated, “This initiative reflects our broader vision of development that is both equitable and future-ready.”

“Thoothukudi is quickly emerging as one of Tamil Nadu’s major industrial centres. The TNSDC–HCLFoundation partnership tackles educated unemployment and reduces migration by providing rural youth with the necessary skills to participate in this growth story through the Samuday programme. Alok Varma, Project Director for Samuday & My Clean City at the HCLFoundation, stated, “The initiative also opens doors for women in non-traditional sectors like IT, logistics, and finance — driving inclusive, sustainable development rooted in local opportunities.”

This collaboration is part of the TNSDC’s “Vetri Nichayam” initiative, which aims to upskill jobless adolescents between the ages of 18 and 35 and give them access to urgent placement prospects. It links participants with possible companies or prospects for self-employment and offers skill training in a variety of fields.