# Engineers Day: Daughters of Barmer extract Indias black gold from scorching desert sands

> On Engineers Day, over 130 women engineers are leading petroleum and gas production in the harsh deserts of Barmer.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Rajasthan · **Published:** 2026-09-15 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/rajasthan/engineers-day-barmer-desert-daughters-extract-black-gold-32387 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Barmer, Engineers Day, Vedanta, women engineers, petroleum, Rajasthan

There was a time when the sandy expanse of Barmer was known mostly for severe water shortages and extreme isolation, but circumstances have transformed dramatically over the years. Today, this very same desert terrain has emerged as a powerhouse of domestic petroleum extraction. The most remarkable aspect of this industrial feat is that from crude production to the refining stages, more than 130 young women are actively driving operations as skilled engineers.

## Operating across key oil fields
These female professionals are stationed across several major oil operations including Mangla, Bhagyam, Rageshwari, Saraswati, Vijaya, Kameshwari, Vandana, Durga, Aishwarya, and Shaheed Tukaram oil fields. Working in diverse domains such as petrochemicals, mud engineering, electrical systems, plant maintenance, mechanical operations, production, and drilling, these women are not only handling critical technical tasks but are also working shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts.

## Navigating underground challenges
Working within Cairn Ranebennur South gas block in Rajasthan, young drilling engineer Mayank Kumar forms part of the broader workforce striving to connect subterranean energy reservoirs with national development. During extraction activities, his team routinely encounters shifting geological formations and complex technical hurdles, yet their overarching mission remains clear: boosting domestic output to strengthen India energy self-reliance.

## Driving automation and modern systems
Similarly, at the Rageshwari oil field in Barmer, young engineer Pranjit Kalita represents a newer generation transforming the sector through technology and automation. Positioned within the instrumentation division, he oversees field instrumentation, process automation, and control systems. He notes that the primary appeal of working in the energy sector is knowing that engineering efforts directly impact national progress and energy security.

## Vast technical workforce
Across Vedanta Oil and Gas operations, more than 650 engineers are deployed across specialized branches such as drilling, production, subsurface, mechanical, instrumentation, digital initiatives, projects, and health safety environment departments. Stretching from desert oil installations in Rajasthan to coastal energy assets nationwide, these specialists leverage modern innovations to elevate output volumes, optimize operational efficiency, and uphold rigorous safety standards.

## Youth and female leadership
A defining characteristic of this engineering division is its youthful demographic, with over 60 percent of professionals aged 35 years or younger. Concurrently, the rising participation of women in core technical roles signifies a profound shift within the energy landscape. Engineers like Surbhi Purohit, petrochemical engineer Richa Sinha, and Suruchi Sharma stand among the cohort of more than 130 women proving their mettle by extracting fuel from harsh desert environments.

## What this means for you
These developments in the energy sector carry direct implications for national resource security and local economic growth.

- **Across India:** Increased domestic petroleum output helps reduce reliance on energy imports and strengthens national energy security. This ensures greater stability in fuel supplies nationwide.
- **In Barmer:** Expansion of industrial operations generates robust local employment opportunities, opening viable technical career paths for regional youth and women.

## Why this happened
This significant expansion in energy production within the region is driven by technological advancements and strategic industrial investments.

- **Resource discovery:** Advanced geological surveys and modern drilling techniques have made the extraction of deeply buried oil reserves commercially viable.
- **Deployment of young talent:** Large-scale recruitment of trained young engineers by energy firms enables complex field operations to run efficiently.
- **Drive for self-reliance:** Meeting escalating domestic energy demands has elevated the commercial exploration of local reserves to a national priority.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. In which oil fields of Barmer are women engineers working?
Female engineers are stationed across Mangla, Bhagyam, Rageshwari, Saraswati, Vijaya, Kameshwari, Vandana, Durga, Aishwarya, and Shaheed Tukaram oil fields.

### 2. How many women engineers are currently working in Barmer?
More than 130 women are working as engineers across these regional oil fields.

### 3. How many engineers are employed by Vedanta across various sectors?
More than 650 engineers are deployed across drilling, production, and other technical domains under Vedanta Oil and Gas.

### 4. What percentage of Vedanta engineers belong to the younger demographic?
Over 60 percent of engineers in the technical workforce are aged 35 years or younger.

### 5. What responsibilities does Pranjit Kalita handle at the Rageshwari oil field?
Pranjit Kalita manages field instrumentation, process automation, and control systems within the instrumentation division.

## Inspiration & Lessons
The journey of women engineers working across these harsh environments offers valuable lessons in determination and professional growth.

- **Overcoming adversity:** Developing the mental fortitude to achieve career goals despite challenging physical and environmental conditions is essential.
- **Breaking barriers:** Women can successfully establish leadership in traditionally male-dominated technical domains through pure competence and dedication.
- **Continuous learning:** Staying updated with modern automation and engineering practices is vital for long-term success in high-tech industries.

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