Hindustan Zinc Limited, a Vedanta Group company, has reached more than two million girls and women through programmes focused on education, sports, skill development and community awareness. Women account for close to 50% of beneficiaries across the company’s initiatives, which aim to improve access to education, employment opportunities and greater participation in community life.
The programmes cover different stages of a girl’s development, from school education and preparation for competitive examinations to sports training and vocational skills. The company said its wider community initiatives have reached 2.6 million people across 4,100 villages.
Through its Shiksha Sambal programme, Hindustan Zinc has supported learning outcomes for more than 47,000 students in rural government schools, with girls accounting for over 50% of beneficiaries. The initiative combines science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education with improvements to learning infrastructure. The company’s Unchi Udaan programme has supported nearly 350 high-performing students through coaching, mentorship and academic guidance for competitive engineering entrance examinations.
One beneficiary, Saniya Uranw from Haldi, Uttarakhand, attended a government school until Class 8 before joining the four-year programme. She subsequently secured admission to IIT Guwahati to pursue engineering. According to the company, financial support helped address her family’s concerns about the cost of higher education, and she continues her studies with an annual scholarship.
Hindustan Zinc is also using sports to expand opportunities for girls. Its Zinc Football Academy in Zawar, Rajasthan, has established a residential programme for girls from underserved communities, combining football training with education, nutrition, healthcare and other support.
Sonam Ghosh from Arambagh, West Bengal, joined the academy’s first residential girls’ programme. She has progressed from academy-level football to representing India at an international level, according to the company. Community awareness is another part of the company’s work. Through Sakhi’s Uthori Jaagriti Kalamanch, women engage communities on issues including child marriage, gender equality and women’s rights. Indra Devi from Moolji ka Kheda, Rajasthan, who experienced child marriage herself, now serves as secretary of Sakhi Udaan Samiti and works to raise awareness about the practice.
For employment and economic independence, Hindustan Zinc’s Zinc Kaushal initiative provides industry-relevant training. The programme has trained more than 12,000 young people, of whom 46% are women, preparing participants for employment, entrepreneurship and other career opportunities. Hindustan Zinc said its initiatives are intended to help girls and women overcome barriers linked to income, geography and social expectations.
Hindustan Zinc Limited (BSE: 500188; NSE: HINDZINC), a Vedanta Group company, is the world’s largest integrated zinc producer and ranks among the world’s top 10 silver producers. It supplies customers in more than 30 countries and holds about 74% of India’s primary zinc market. The company has introduced EcoZen, a low-carbon zinc brand produced using renewable energy, and has stated its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 or sooner. Its social programmes focus on education, skills, livelihoods and community development.
