Hindustan Zinc Limited recently celebrated International Youth Day by highlighting a significant milestone—securing employment for over 5,950 rural youth through its flagship CSR initiative, Zinc Kaushal Kendra. Since its inception in 2019, the programme has provided skills development training to more than 7,100 rural youth. Aligned with the theme ‘From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development,' the initiative has been pivotal in empowering youth in the company's operational areas through skills development and entrepreneurship.
Zinc Kaushal Kendra addresses the pressing issue of youth unemployment by offering market-relevant skills training, focusing on holistic development. This enables young individuals to secure sustainable livelihoods. Through strong partnerships with industry and educational institutions, the initiative offers intensive short-term courses in hospitality, microfinance services, business correspondence, sales and customer relationship management, and entrepreneurship, effectively bridging the gap between academia and the workplace.
Recently, 76 trainees from the programme secured placements in esteemed organisations, embarking on promising career paths that contribute to both personal growth and national development. Among the success stories is Deepak Salvi, a recent graduate employed by Raxa Security (GMR Group), who shared his gratitude: "I'm truly grateful for the opportunity provided by Zinc Kaushal. Working at Hyderabad Airport with a generous salary has brought immense joy to my family and reflects my accomplishments."
Arun Misra, CEO, Hindustan Zinc, commented, "Our commitment to nurturing the potential of rural youth is unwavering. Skilling the youth is core to our vision of socio-economic development and a means of empowering them towards self-reliance. By equipping young people with market-relevant skills, we are not only transforming individual lives but also laying the foundation for a more prosperous and equitable society. Through Zinc Kaushal Kendra, we are helping to build a 'Viksit Bharat,' where skilled and confident youth drive national progress and innovation. This initiative underscores our dedication to nurturing local talent, fostering sustainable growth, and contributing to the overall development of communities. To date, our 5,960 trainees are transforming the rural landscape and creating an inclusive future for all."
The programme has demonstrated remarkable success in transforming lives, with a focus on new-age skills development through its Solar PV lab, preparing youth for future demands. The initiative has organised over 100 exposure visits, benefiting more than 1,600 students with hands-on training. It also offers coaching for government exams at Agucha, Kayad, and Zawar locations, assisting over 250 students in pursuing public service careers.
Beyond skills development, Hindustan Zinc's CSR initiatives have impacted 1.9 million people across 3,685 villages. Programmes like Samadhan, Zinc Football Academy, and Zinc Kaushal Kendra have skilled 1.3 lakh individuals. Additionally, about 1.4 million women and children have been empowered through programmes focused on education, health, water, sanitation, microenterprises, and cultural promotion.
Hindustan Zinc Limited, a Vedanta Group company, is the world's second-largest integrated zinc producer and the third-largest silver producer. The company supplies products to over 40 countries and holds a market share of about 75% of the primary zinc market in India. Recognised as the world's most sustainable company in the metals and mining category by the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2023, Hindustan Zinc reflects operational excellence, innovation, and leading ESG practices. The company also launched EcoZen, Asia's first low carbon 'green' zinc brand. Produced using renewable energy, EcoZen has a carbon footprint of less than 1 tonne of carbon equivalent per tonne of zinc produced, about 75% lower than the global average. Hindustan Zinc is also a certified 2.41 times Water-Positive company and is committed to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050 or sooner. As a world leader in the metals and mining industry, Hindustan Zinc plays a pivotal role in providing critical metals essential for the global energy transition towards a sustainable future.
