Hindustan Zinc’s ‘Sakhi Utsav’ Empowers Over 1,000 Women in Jawar Mines, Udaipur

Udaipur, March 31 – Hindustan Zinc, one of India’s largest integrated zinc producers, showcased its strong commitment to women empowerment by organizing a grand ‘Sakhi Utsav’ at the Jawar Stadium in Rajasthan’s tribal belt. The event, held in collaboration with the Manjari Foundation and Sakhi Shakti Samiti, saw participation from over 1,000 women who are part of self-help groups (SHGs) in the region.

The initiative drew appreciation from Udaipur MP Mannalal Rawat, who hailed Hindustan Zinc’s consistent efforts in transforming the lives of rural women by making them self-reliant and empowered.

Empowering Rural Women Through CSR

During the event, MP Mannalal Rawat said, “Hindustan Zinc is not just a mining company; it is a powerful source of employment and empowerment. Through the Sakhi project, women are being trained, supported, and inspired to lead in various sectors. If women are self-reliant, the nation becomes stronger.”

He further added that the project, which is active in six districts of Rajasthan and in Pantnagar (Uttarakhand), is a national example of grassroots women empowerment. Hindustan Zinc is also contributing significantly to education and health in the region.

Sakhi Utsav: Celebration With Purpose

The day-long festival included several engaging activities and competitions like matki phod, tug of war, kabaddi, jalebi race, and musical chair, with enthusiastic participation from the SHG women. Cultural programs including traditional folk dances, bhajans, and Rajasthani songs added festive fervor to the event.

Notable dignitaries present included Salumber MLA Shanta Amritlal Meena, CEO of Jawar Mines Ram Murari, Vedanta CSR Head Anupam Nidhi, and several senior police officials and village leaders.

Speaking at the event, CEO Ram Murari emphasized, “We are committed to strengthening every woman in our Sakhi community through initiatives like Sakhi, Zinc Kaushal, Shiksha Sambal, and Samadhan. Women are already leading from the front within Hindustan Zinc and Vedanta.”

Recognitions and Milestones

Over 100 girls trained in Unarmed Guard and Food Service Management under the Zinc Kaushal initiative were awarded certificates. Winners of the sports competitions were also felicitated.

Rukmani Meena, President of Sakhi Federation, shared the year-round achievements of the initiative, which currently reaches over 25,000 women across 200 villages via 2,000+ SHGs.

Exhibitions at the venue highlighted various CSR programs such as Zinc Kaushal (skill development), Samadhan (livelihood development), Shiksha Sambal (education support), and Micro-enterprises run by women.

Hindustan Zinc’s National Impact

Hindustan Zinc, a subsidiary of Vedanta Group, is driving women-led development across Rajasthan and Uttarakhand. With more than 25,000 women empowered, its Sakhi initiative is one of the largest grassroots women’s empowerment models in the country. It operates in districts like Udaipur, Salumber, Rajsamand, Bhilwara, Ajmer, Chittorgarh, and Pantnagar, helping rural women build sustainable livelihoods.