UDAIPUR, March 16: Reinforcing its commitment to rural empowerment, Hindustan Zinc Limited’s flagship skill-development initiative, Zinc Kaushal Kendra, has successfully trained thousands of rural youths, significantly boosting employment opportunities across Rajasthan and beyond. With more than 7,000 youths, including 40% female participants, benefiting from specialized training, the initiative has emerged as a transformative force, bridging the urban-rural skill divide.
Empowering Rural Communities Through Market-Relevant Skills
The Zinc Kaushal Kendra initiative, spearheaded by Hindustan Zinc (NSE: HINDZINC), operates multiple skill-training centers across Rajasthan—strategically located at Dariba, Agucha, Kayad, Udaipur, and Zawar. These centers provide short-term, intensive courses designed explicitly to enhance employability and address the critical challenge of youth unemployment in rural India. Trainees receive hands-on instruction in diverse trades such as:
- Unarmed Security Services
- Retail Sales and Marketing
- Assistant Electricians
- Food & Beverage Service
- Customer Relationship Management
- Microfinance Operations
The program’s comprehensive training approach ensures rural youth acquire not just technical skills, but also vital communication and interpersonal abilities, crucial for professional growth and sustainable livelihoods.
Bridging the Skill Gap, Creating Sustainable Livelihoods
With youth unemployment posing a significant challenge in rural India, Zinc Kaushal Kendra effectively addresses this gap. Located strategically across Hindustan Zinc’s key operational sites at Dariba, Agucha, Kayad, Udaipur, and Zawar in Rajasthan, these centers offer accessible training opportunities tailored to the evolving employment demands of urban markets. Graduates of the program have secured placements in reputed organizations across sectors, significantly improving their socioeconomic status.
Real-Life Success Stories Showcase Program’s Impact
Participants of the Zinc Kaushal Kendra initiative reflect confidence, capability, and independence after completing their courses. One such example is a trainee currently working as a Customer Relationship Manager at the renowned Indira IVF Centre in Udaipur. Sharing her transformative experience, she said, “I never imagined working in a reputed organization before joining Zinc Kaushal Kendra. The training not only equipped me with market-ready skills but significantly boosted my confidence, allowing me to achieve financial independence.”
Such testimonials underline the initiative’s success, demonstrating tangible outcomes through employment opportunities and personal growth for participants.
Collaboration with Leading Organizations Enhances Training Quality
Hindustan Zinc’s strategic collaborations have greatly strengthened Zinc Kaushal Kendra’s reach and effectiveness. Partnerships with renowned organizations such as AAVAS Financiers, AAVAS Financiers, Udaipur Cement Works, and Udaipur-based Indira IVF Center, alongside collaboration with respected institutions like Vidya Bhawan Society, ensure high-quality training aligned with industry standards. These associations enhance participants’ employability prospects, reinforcing the initiative’s credibility and effectiveness.
Promoting Inclusivity and Gender Diversity
The initiative significantly emphasizes gender inclusivity, with women comprising approximately 40% of trainees. This focus addresses critical socio-economic barriers faced by rural women, empowering them to pursue sustainable careers, achieve financial independence, and contribute actively to their families and communities. Encouraging female participation represents a significant step toward a more equitable and progressive society in rural India.
Commitment to Sustainable Livelihoods and Rural Empowerment
Beyond the Zinc Kaushal Kendra, Hindustan Zinc’s broader Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy demonstrates the company’s robust commitment to societal upliftment and sustainable development. Recognized among India’s Top 10 CSR companies, Hindustan Zinc’s multifaceted initiatives in education, environment, healthcare, and livelihood have significantly improved living standards across rural Rajasthan.
Hindustan Zinc: Leading the Way in Sustainability and Innovation
Hindustan Zinc, a flagship entity of the Vedanta Group, remains a global leader as the world’s second-largest integrated zinc producer and the third-largest silver producer. The company serves an essential role by supplying critical metals crucial for the global energy transition towards sustainability.
Recently, Hindustan Zinc launched EcoZen, Asia’s first low-carbon ‘green’ zinc brand, produced using renewable energy. EcoZen boasts an exceptionally low carbon footprint—less than one tonne of carbon equivalent per tonne of zinc—approximately 75% below the global average. This groundbreaking innovation highlights Hindustan Zinc’s unwavering dedication to sustainability, environmental stewardship, and leading ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) practices.
Creating a Skilled Workforce for a Sustainable Future
Through the Zinc Kaushal Kendra initiative, Hindustan Zinc is actively contributing toward India’s vision of a skilled, self-sufficient rural workforce. By providing thousands of youths, especially women, with essential professional skills, the company is playing a pivotal role in fostering inclusive growth and economic resilience in Rajasthan and beyond.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.