Jaipur, Dec 16 (IANS): Hindustan Zinc, a Vedanta Group company, picked 500 young drop-outs from Udaipur, Bhilwara, Ajmer and Chittorgarh in Rajasthan, trained them in various vocational trades and fetched them gainful employment, the company said in a statement Tuesday.

"These youths were school drop-outs and had left studies due to lack of interest, facilities or financial conditions. As part of training program, Hindustan Zinc also organized their boarding and lodging facilities for the entire duration of 90 days' training program in each trade."

Pavan Kaushik, head of corporate communication with Hindustan Zinc, said these unemployed youth were spending time in effortless activities and were not inclined to undertake any training for their gainful employment.

"The situation was particularly not comfortable for girls. The families of these girls were not prepared to send them for such residential program. It took time for us to convince these youths and their families," he said.

"But once they joined the program, the teaching methodology and on-hand experience resulted in a remarkable improvement in their skills. Today, almost all of them have been employed, earning sufficiently between Rs.4,000 and even Rs.20,000 per month."

He said the training was designed keeping in mind rural background of these students, their interests and grasping power. The areas included, among others, mining, welding, drilling, electrician, cutting, helpers, tailoring, embroidery and hospitality.

Equal emphasis was given on classroom lectures and practical exposures. Since the course was entirely residential, the students learnt about team effort, discipline and overall personality development, which helped them in securing sustainable livelihood, Kaushik said.

“The training has been quite successful and it has motivated several other drop-out youths, particularly girls, and encouraged them to learn and live a respectable future. Vocational training is the only option to employ such drop-out rural youths."