The Centre will leverage industry partnerships to deliver relevant, job-oriented training, while its dedicated International Placements Wing.
BHOGAPURAM (India CSR): Global spiritual leader, humanitarian and founder of the Art of Living Foundation, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, today inaugurated the GMR Varalakshmi Foundation (GMRVF) Skill Development Centre at Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh. He interacted with the young trainees and staff, learning about their aspirations and the Centre’s training programmes and blessed them to make the most of the opportunities opening up before them. Gurudev also blessed the Centre’s mission of empowering local youth through skills, employment and sustainable livelihoods.
During his visit to Bhogapuram, he also visited Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport, where G.M. Rao, Chairman, GMR Group, led him through the airport and briefed him on its development, infrastructure and vision as the new aviation gateway for North Coastal Andhra Pradesh.
GMR Varalakshmi Foundation (GMRVF), the CSR arm of GMR Group, is strengthening its community development initiatives around the airport through its dedicated Skill Development Centre, which has the capacity to train up to 1,000 youth annually. Designed to empower young people from remote and underserved communities, the Centre provides industry-relevant, job-oriented training and connects trainees with employment opportunities in India and overseas.
During his interaction with the trainees, Gurudev was briefed on the Centre’s training programmes, infrastructure and employment-focused initiatives. He heard the aspirations of the young participants and encouraged them to work hard towards their dreams, while using their energy and talents to bring happiness to themselves and others.
The Centre combines classroom-based learning with hands-on practical training, enabling trainees to build capabilities aligned with industry requirements and prepare for sustainable livelihood opportunities.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said, “Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport brings together the rich cultural heritage of Andhra Pradesh with a vision for a brighter future. True development is about creating opportunities and improving lives. This airport has the potential to become a powerful catalyst for the growth of North Andhra, creating greater opportunities in tourism, trade, investment, employment and entrepreneurship.
It is heartening to see a world-class infrastructure project that is rooted in the identity and spirit of the region. I commend Shri G. M. Rao Garu and the GMR team for creating not merely an airport, but a landmark that reflects excellence, service and the spirit of Andhra Pradesh. May this airport become a gateway of growth and prosperity, opening new possibilities for the people of North Andhra and strengthening India’s journey towards a developed nation”, he further added.
Ashwini Saxena, CEO – GMRVF, said, “Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s visit to the GMR Varalakshmi Foundation Skill Development Centre at Bhogapuram and his interaction with the trainees is an inspiring moment for the young people who are preparing themselves for a future of greater opportunities. His message on the transformative power of education, skills and youth empowerment aligns closely with GMR’s vision of making infrastructure development more inclusive and meaningful for the communities it serves.
The Skill Development Centre has been established with this very purpose to ensure that the growth around Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport creates opportunities not only in aviation and allied sectors, but across the wider economic ecosystem. With the capacity to train 1,000 youth annually, industry partnerships and a dedicated International Placements Wing, the Centre will provide young people from remote and underserved communities with the skills, exposure and pathways needed to pursue sustainable livelihoods in India and overseas” he further added.
The facility comprises six modern classrooms equipped with audio-visual facilities, an IT laboratory, library, seminar hall, mess and dining facilities, and hands-on training workshops. The Centre will leverage industry partnerships to deliver relevant, job-oriented training, while its dedicated International Placements Wing will support employment opportunities for trained youth in India and overseas. By creating a bridge between local talent and industry, the Centre seeks to enable young people to participate in the economic opportunities emerging in the region.
GMRVF initiated its CSR interventions in Bhogapuram alongside the construction of the airport, focusing on health, wellbeing and livelihood development. The Skill Development Centre forms part of this broader community-development approach, with the objective of enabling local youth to acquire the capabilities needed to access emerging economic opportunities and build more secure and dignified livelihoods. Alongside its skilling initiatives, GMRVF has also initiated a Mobile Medical Unit at Bhogapuram, extending its community healthcare interventions to surrounding communities.
Developed and operated by GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport Limited (GVIAL), Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport is envisioned as a key aviation and connectivity hub for North Coastal Andhra Pradesh. As the Gateway of the East, the airport is expected to strengthen regional connectivity and support tourism, employment generation and economic development, while initiatives such as the GMRVF Skill Development Centre seek to ensure that local communities are equipped to participate in and benefit from the region’s growth.
