New Delhi, October 2023.

Cairn Oil & Gas, part of Vedanta Group, India’s largest private oil and gas exploration and production company,has signed a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) with Agriculture University, Jodhpur (AUJ). The MoU encompasses more than 15 training programs annually, including short and long-term courses, paving the way for employment opportunities,enhancing skill development in the farm and non-farm sectors, and enabling long-term economic prosperity in the region.The training courses include vocational courses with a duration of one month and long-term diploma programs of one year duration.

The courses will be conducted at the Cairn Center of Excellence (CCoE) in Jodhpur, Rajasthan with the aim of training 200 students in a year and commitment to steadily augment in the coming years.Promoting accessibility to a wider demography, students enrolled in the courses will also benefit from subsidized fees for both tuition and hostel expenses.

This partnership follows Cairn’s stated goal of ‘Transforming Communities’ to achieve its Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) vision.

Commenting on the partnership, Dr Steve Moore, DeputyCEO, Cairn Oil & Gas said, “We are partnering with the Agriculture University, Jodhpur, to foster skill development among communities residing around our areas of operations.At Cairn, we value the transformation of communities as a key ESG commitment. Through this partnership, we aim to impart skills with adequate livelihood opportunities that can contribute to the region’s overall economic prosperity.As part of Vedanta Group, we believe in nurturing nature-based solutions to bring positive impact in the areas that are supporting our goal of enabling India’s energy security.”

This endeavor is proposed for an initial three-year period with the potential for renewal in the future. Upon the successful completion of the courses, the centre will offer placement support, with a strong emphasis on encouraging the students towards self-employment, jobs, and entrepreneurship opportunities, along with due affiliation and accreditation.In addition to student-focused initiatives, farmers in Cairn's operational areas in Barmer and Jalore districts in Rajasthan will reap the benefits of value addition through AUJ’s modules, services, and technical assistance.

Sharing his views on the association, Dr. BR Choudhary, Vice Chancellor of AUJ said, "Agriculture University has taken a step further to train and empower youth in the field of agriculture and allied activities through its partnership with Cairn and its state-of-the-art centre - Cairn Centre of Excellence (CCoE) in Jodhpur. Together I believe we can make a meaningful and sustainable impact in creating an Aatmanirbhar Bharat.”

AUJ is engaged in providing knowledge and skills to address challenges in the agriculture sector and has been a flagbearer in revolutionising agriculture in western India.

The Cairn Center of Excellence (CCOE) in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, has been operational since 2014 and has successfully trained over 2,000 students in six vocational courses. The students trained at CCOE have played a crucial role in enhancing livelihoods in their communities through self-employment and small businesses, contributing to local economic development.

The MoU was recently signed between the two organizations represented by Aditi Purohit, Officiating Registrar, AUJ, and Brigadier BS Shekhawat and Harmeet Sehra from Cairn Oil & Gas. This joint effort between CCOE and AUJ marks a significant step towards empowering local communities with practical skills, enhancing their employability, and contributing to the overall development of the region.