From Gadchiroli Village to Curtin University Australia: Ignasiyus Prakash Bada Returns Home After Master’s

For Ignasiyus Prakash Bada, studying at an Australian university was once far removed from the realities of life in Bande, a remote village near the Surjagarh Iron Ore Mine in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district.

The son of a farmer and an Anganwadi helper, Bada has now completed a Master’s in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Curtin University in Perth, Australia, and returned to Gadchiroli to begin his professional career.

He has joined Lloyds Metals and Energy Limited (LMEL) as a Management Trainee, becoming the first student from the inaugural batch of the Lloyds Infinite Foundation’s Curtin University Sponsorship Programme to complete the course and return to the region.

Bada’s journey began through the sponsorship programme run by Lloyds Infinite Foundation, the CSR arm of Lloyds Metals and Energy. The initiative was established to support students from the region in pursuing higher education and gaining international academic exposure.

According to the organisation, the sponsorship covered tuition fees, accommodation, travel and living expenses, allowing Bada to pursue his postgraduate education in Australia.

From Bande to Perth

Bada grew up in a family of seven in Bande. His mother, Sarita, works as an Anganwadi helper, while his father, Prakash, is a farmer. Against that background, studying overseas was not an immediate or easily accessible option.

His time at Curtin University exposed him to a different academic and cultural environment. Speaking about the experience, Bada said the opportunity changed his perspective, confidence and aspirations.

He also credited the support of B. Prabhakaran, Managing Director of Lloyds Metals and Energy, for enabling him to pursue an opportunity he had not previously considered possible.

Returning to Gadchiroli

Rather than beginning his career abroad, Bada has returned to Gadchiroli and taken up a role with Lloyds Metals and Energy.

His return forms an important part of the sponsorship programme's stated objective of creating access to international higher education while encouraging students to contribute to their home region after completing their studies.

The initiative traces back to a commitment made by B. Prabhakaran in 2023 to create opportunities for young people from the local area to pursue higher education and subsequently contribute to the development of Gadchiroli.

Commenting on Bada’s completion of the programme, Prabhakaran said the journey demonstrated that the initiative could create opportunities for local students to gain international exposure and return to work in their home region.

Bada’s case is the first completed journey under the sponsorship programme’s inaugural batch, taking him from a village in Gadchiroli to Curtin University in Perth and back to the district for the start of his professional career.

Lloyds Infinite Foundation works on initiatives related to education, healthcare, skill development and sustainable development in Gadchiroli and surrounding communities. It operates as the CSR arm of Lloyds Metals and Energy Limited.