Cairn Oil & Gas, part of Vedanta Group, said that it has provided skill-based training programme to nearly 25,000 youth across its operational areas enabling thousands of them to become entrepreneurs and many others to gain employment.

Through its two training centres in Rajasthan – Cairn Enterprise Centre (CEC) in Barmer and Cairn Centre of Excellence (CCOE) in Jodhpur – Cairn has been driving skill development through vocational programme focused on enhancing employability, entrepreneurship and generating sustainable livelihoods for youth.

To date, the company has successfully trained over 20,000 youth from the region, across 15 sectors and 35 job roles through its Barmer Hub Center and 56 spoke centres, the statement said.

As per the company, the CEC has achieved an 80% placement rate since its inception, with 70% job retention rate. More than 35% of the skilled youth have started their own small businesses in the region, creating entrepreneurship, and self-reliance. Notably, 25% of the beneficiaries are women, employed across sectors such as beauty & make-up, banking, masonry, and computers, highlighting company’s continuous efforts towards gender inclusion at the regional level.

On the occasion of Youth Day, the company introduced e-kaksha initiative in 2020 to provide digital education to students in Rajasthan, with access to digital resources and library.  Under this, the company aimed to reach nine million students by 2030 but has already surpassed the target touching over 23 million students since the inception of its programme.

The company is also addressing the digital divide by setting up a digital classroom at Sarupathar College in Assam’s Golaghat district. Serving around 4,000 students, the initiative offers vital digital exposure and access to modern technology—many for the first time. What began as a digital classroom has now grown into a full-fledged skill development centre, opening new pathways for the students' future.  

 “Youth are the future of the nation, and it is our responsibility to provide them with an opportunity to build a meaningful life. Cairn Oil & Gas is committed to contributing to nation-building by empowering the youth in the areas it operates in, through skill development initiatives and training programs to meet the talent demands of the growing nation. It makes us proud to see these young individuals, trained in our centres, succeed in their lives independently and with confidence”, Cairn spokesperson said.