UDAIPUR (India CSR): Ahead of Rajasthan’s 76th Foundation Day, Hindustan Zinc Limited, India’s largest and the world’s second largest integrated zinc producer, organized the first-of-its-kind Sakhi Fest celebrating the rural women of Rajasthan. The company’s flagship social impact initiative, Sakhi, aimed at mobilizing and empowering rural women has benefitted the lives of more than 25,000 women from the state through various employment and credit-linkage opportunities. The Sakhi Fest brought together Sakhi women from various districts of Rajasthan showcasing the spirit the womanhood coupled with the blend of art, culture and tradition of the sunshine state.
Organized in Zinc City, Udaipur the Sakhi Fest witnessed a day-long extravaganza celebrating the essence of Rajasthan culture. With over 30 interactive stalls, entertainment zones, and live performances, the festival provided a vibrant and immersive experience for attendees of all age groups. The event showcased a dynamic mix of art, craft and cultural performances, through live demonstrations of block printing, pottery, puppetry, weaving, terracotta art, and clay sculpture making, celebrating the diverse artisanal traditions of Rajasthan.
The fest also hosted a food corner consisting of various culinary delights from all corners of Rajasthan and India. Beyond crafts and cuisine, Sakhi Fest presented a spectacular cultural lineup. The festival’s highlight was the Grand Qawwali Night by the renowned Nizami Brothers and featured soulful Sufi melodies by Honey Sharma, mesmerizing folk performances by Shubhra Pareek, an exhilarating Khartal & Tabla Jugalbandi by Firoz Khan & Muzaffar Rehman, and dynamic folk dance performances.
Speaking on the occasion, Arun Misra, CEO Hindustan Zinc Limited, said, “Rajasthan is a land of opportunities that is very special to us. We are committed to propelling the growth of the sunshine state with a focus three-pronged approach: People, Production and Prosperity. As one of the oldest and long-term partners of Rajasthan’s progress, our initiatives are aimed at empowering local communities, creating employment opportunities and positioning the state as the zinc capital of not just India but the world. Today Rajasthan is synonymous with zinc & silver as the state hosts the world’s largest underground zinc mining operations at Bhilwara and world’s second largest silver producing mine at Rajsamand.”
Over the years, Hindustan Zinc has contributed more than INR 40,000 crores to the state exchequer and created employment opportunities for more than thousands of people. The company has also invested more than INR 1,500 crores in the past 15 years for various social impact initiatives spanning education, sustainable livelihoods, women empowerment, health, water, sanitation and promoting grassroots sports, art & culture. At the recently concluded Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit, Hindustan Zinc also announced the plans to launch the world’s first Zinc Park, an industrial ecosystem for upstream and downstream industries in Rajasthan.
Through a network of over 2,000 Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Sakhi uplifts women to break stereotypes, driving social and economic progress in their communities. Sakhi has also been instrumental in fostering economic empowerment. Beyond financial empowerment, Sakhi is a movement fostering a new narrative of self-reliance and social change. Women, driven by their strength and determination, are becoming architects of progress, breaking barriers, and uplifting entire communities.
Beyond women empowerment, Hindustan Zinc has been a strong force in promoting quality education for all, sustainable livelihood opportunities, healthcare access, arts & culture, water conservation & sanitation, supporting grassroots football talent, art & culture impacting over 20 lakh lives across nearly 4,000 villages. Ranked among India’s top 10 CSR companies, Hindustan Zinc’s initiatives reflect its commitment to building a resilient, self-sufficient Rajasthan that champions inclusivity, innovation, and environmental responsibility.
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 to more than 40 countries and holds a market share of about 75% of the primary zinc market in India. Hindustan Zinc has been recognized as the world’s most sustainable company in the metals and mining category for the second consecutive year by the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2024, reflecting its 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. Transforming the lives of over 2 million people through its focused social welfare initiatives, Hindustan Zinc is among the Top 10 CSR companies in India. As a world leader in the metals and mining industry, Hindustan Zinc is pivotal in providing critical metals essential for the global energy transition for a sustainable future.
(India CSR)
