28 years old Aavesh started seeing his dreams turn into reality, when he not only topped in his trainings but also accomplished completing the 18-month training under Hindustan Zinc Mining Academy, in only 12 months.

Belonging to a small village of Laxmipura, with a population of not more than 700, little did Aavesh know what his destiny had in mind.

Aavesh, had completed his B.A. and then moved to pursue ITI from Madhya Pradesh in 2015 post which he started working with Maruti in Gurgaon. However, Aavesh was looking for better opportunities and a stable job. He started searching for employment, when one day he saw an advertisement in the newspaper regarding opening for ITI pass outs who can enroll themselves to train at Hindustan Zinc Mining Academy.

Hindustan Zinc set up the ‘Hindustan Zinc Mining Academy’, with an aim to develop and create a pool of highly specialized skilled candidates by selecting local youths of Hindustan Zinc’s operational areas.

Aavesh applied for the training and appeared for the exam. More than 2000 candidates applied for the training and only 87 cleared the exam; Aavesh being one of them. This was a proud moment not only for Aavesh but also for his family and village. After selection, Aavesh worked at Railmagra in Rajsamand for 45-days, post which he was trained at Zawar.

With his hard work and dedication, today Aavesh works as a Jumbo Drill Operator at Agucha Mines with an annual package of 3.77 lakhs.

His wife delightfully said, “Things for us have changed for better, both socially and economically. I wish he gets all the success he deserves…”.

“Hindustan Zinc recognizes talents and skills and provides opportunities to them. I am now preparing to travel to Australia for further operational learning and to enhance my skills…”, said Aavesh with a positive self-assurance.

Hindustan Zinc Mining Academy in the next 5 years, aims to train about 500 ITI pass-outs in Jumbo Drill Operations and Winding Engine operations.

This will mean creating better opportunities for candidates like Aavesh who have the zeal of learning and determination…

Hindustan Zinc under Jeevan Tarang program organized three workshops on ‘Menstrual Hygiene & Sexual Violence’ for deaf girl students from 5^th to 12^th class at Viklang Kalyan Samiti – Udaipur, Badhir Baal Kalyan Vikas Samiti – Bhilwara and Badhit Baal Vikas Samiti – Ajmer, in Rajasthan.

The faculty of the workshops was Ms. Jisha Sibbu – a deaf trainer from Noida Deaf Society. The workshop was filled with discussions pertaining to orienting the girls on good menstrual hygienic practices and also sensitize them on various complications arising due to lack of hygiene during their menstrual cycles.

Apart from hygiene, the workshop also focussed on the opposing and preventing Sexual Violence. It was first of its kind Workshop in these three cities. As Jisha communicated with the girls in Indian Sign Language, all the girls became excited and happy to be communicated in their mother tongue. Total of 56 teen girls along with 12 teachers participated in the workshop.

Mr. Pavan Kaushik – Head, Corporate Communication said “There is a need to understand and up-bring these children with all love and care. Jeevan Tarang is an initiative to work towards a more inclusive society, where every single ability & disability gets the same opportunities and recognition. Hindustan Zinc has partnered with experts to build capacities of these institutions and also engaging industry representatives to ensure good job opportunities for them.”

Fact says that over 12 million people in India are hearing impaired. Even the teachers working in these schools are not equipped or trained to teach the hearing impaired students as Sign Language is still not accepted as a medium of teaching and communication. Lack of access to language has also kept the deaf away from development of social and cognitive skills.

Jeevan Tarang is an initiative of the company, to cater to people with disabilities, with a focus to identify needs of deaf-mute, visually impaired and children with brain damages, by improving the facilities and learning in identified schools catering to the differently abled children. This program has so far impacted more than 600 children.

Sayar’s flour-mill plays an important role in the big events that happen in her village, may it be marriages or any kind of celebrations.

Looking back at the earlier days, 45 years old Sayar’s husband worked as a labourer. Sayar has been a part of the Shanti Samooh (SHG) under Hindustan Zinc’s Sakhi Project since one year. She made meals for the Anganwadi (AWC) children & pregnant women and with that she earned around Rs. 8000/- every month. With the help of the money saved, Sayar also got her daughter married. Sayar always wanted to explore further opportunities and utilize it in helping her family and her village.

Since there was not a single flour mill in Jaisinghpura, all the ladies had to go to the outskirts of the village to grind their cereals. This struck Sayar with an opportunity and along with her husband, Sayar planned to invest in a flour mill. To set up the mill, Sayar took a loan of Rs. 10,000/- from the VO (village organization), Ujala Gram Sanghathan, under Sakhi, in the month of May.

The flour-mill had not only helped her economically but also created convenience for the villagers. Now the entire village comes to Sayar to grind their cereals and with this she earns around Rs. 7,800/- every month.

Sayar has always been very hardworking and ambitious, along with managing the flour mill, she continues to cook for AWC.

Gratified, her daughter said, “Watching my mother do so much has brought immense happiness to me. I was always worried about what would happen after I get married, but now I am not. Because of her leadership skills, she is also elected as one of the representatives of her samooh, and is a cashier in the VO…”.

“I am simply grateful to Hindustan Zinc for giving me my happiness and self-worth…”, emotionally smiled Sayar.

The feeling of confidence clearly showcased on Sayar’s face as she spoke. She had not only been a role model for her Rajput community but every single woman in Jaisinghpura…