Tata Power creates sustainable livelihood opportunities for women at Jojobera
Jojobera: Tata Power, India’s largest integrated power company has always been a pioneer in undertaking initiatives to impact lives positively at its operational areas. In line with this philosophy, Tata Power Jojobera has strived to promote sustainable livelihood opportunities for women in the areas of its operations. The dedicated team at Tata Power Jojobera has worked towards formation of self-help groups (SHGs) making women in the communities self-reliant. The endeavour has helped in formation of more than 50 SHGs among close to 700 women.
The CSR team at Tata Power Jojobera has also helped these women to open their bank accounts, for the first time, to encourage the underprivileged women to pool their savings and create a common fund to help each other financially. This initiative has helped them to lead a financially independent life. Significantly, the SHGs have raised close to Rs14.58 lakh, from February 2016, meeting their credit needs efficiently. The groups have internally loaned Rs3.5 lakh for various sustainable livelihood initiatives.
Speaking on the initiative, VV Namjoshi, chief, Jojobera Station said, “Tata Power is committed to holistic development of the society with a special emphasis on women empowerment, through various means, which would lead to overall development of village. Through SHG formation, easy access to finance and capacity building and skilling true potential of these women is realised. Training on various trades has enabled them to expand their skills and assets and convert them into meaningful livelihoods. This will generate sustainable income for them as they have ready market to use in agriculture project”.
Some of these SHGs have taken up production of vermicompost as means of generating income among the communities. Post the trainings, by partnering with NGOs, 23 women have produced close to seven tonnes of vermicompost in the first cycle, generating Rs42,000 as their income. So far more than 70 vermi tanks have been produced against a target of 150 tanks by February 18. There is a ready market for these vermicompost for farmers’ groups who are practicing collective farming facilitated by Tata Power using drip irrigation and scientific methods. It is estimated that annually around 150 tonnes of vermicompost will be used in local farms.