CASE Construction Equipment has begun the second phase of its Project LEAD project in India, with a focus on 1500 villages to provide rural youth with entrepreneurial skills and agricultural and infrastructure training.

CASE Construction Equipment, a CNH trademark, has launched the second phase of its LEAD (Livelihoods and Entrepreneurship Awareness Development) project in cities across India to encourage rural entrepreneurship and economic development. The initiative’s goal is to reduce urban migration while also encouraging reverse migration by providing business skills to rural youngsters. The project aims to raise awareness about alternative income production opportunities in agriculture and infrastructure through training programmes delivered via a mobile training centre van.

The LEAD 2.0 initiative, begun in Faridabad, expands on the success of the first phase by targeting youngsters in an additional 1500 villages across Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Odisha, Bhubaneswar, and Jharkhand. The second edition seeks to educate young talent on critical sectors for rural development, including modern farming techniques and sustainable practices in agriculture, rural industries such as poultry, dairy, beekeeping, and fisheries, and rural infrastructure, with a focus on road construction and irrigation. The LEAD 2.0 initiative aims to empower regional youth by imparting knowledge and skills in these areas, assisting them to create subsidiary income generation avenues, thus addressing the challenges of unemployment and economic disparity in rural areas, fostering a more balanced economic development, and promoting self-reliance among the rural population.

Emre Karazli, Vice President Construction Segment, APAC & AME announces the launch of the LEAD 2.0 project, “At CASE, we support inclusive growth and recognise the vital role that rural entrepreneurship plays in fostering comprehensive economic development. With LEAD 2.0, we reaffirm our commitment to giving the nation’s youngsters in rural areas the resources and opportunities they need to participate in the expanding economy.”

Speaking about the project, Shalabh Chaturvedi, Managing Director, CASE Construction Equipment – India & SAARC, states, “Aligning with India’s vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, CASE has taken a significant step in enhancing the skills of rural youth by connecting them with opportunities and raising awareness. This initiative educates individuals in rural areas and contributes towards socio-economic development in these regions. Through LEAD 2.0, our goal is to address unemployment, bridging the skill gap within the relevant sectors, where there is a high demand for skilled labour.”

The initial phase, LEAD 1.0, had a substantial impact in five states and one union territory, comprising 38 districts and reaching 3,113 villages. With an audience of 61,981, the initiative saw 36,381 people actively participate in presentations. This widespread engagement demonstrates the project’s success in empowering rural communities and emphasises the importance of sustaining and expanding the effort.

In response to the difficulties of unemployment and economic inequity in rural areas, CASE is dedicated to promoting rural entrepreneurship in India. By working with local partners and stakeholders, the company hopes to create new solutions that address these concerns while also catering to the unique needs of each location.

CASE provides a complete range of construction equipment throughout the country and is a market leader in the Vibratory Compactor area. The company’s cutting-edge manufacturing facility in Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh, manufactures Made-in-India items for domestic consumption and export to over 100 markets globally.

For more information, visit: https://www.casece.com/en/india