Pune, November 08, 2023: In the heart of Pune's slums, where significant marginalised populations reside, a silent battle against child malnutrition and poverty has been unfolding since 2014. Tata Motors has been a driving force behind this mission to empower the most vulnerable in society and help them fight child malnutrition in a sustained manner. The company is supported by numerous Community Link Workers in this initiative.
Sameena Shaikh, a remarkable Community Link Worker (CLW) is a wonderful example to look up to. She recognised the need to empower mothers of malnourished children in order to help them escape the vicious cycle of poverty and malnutrition. She has worked relentlessly to help uplift families from the grip of poverty.
For Sameena, the journey began with identifying a group of five widows, all mothers of malnourished children. Seeing their potential for micro-enterprise, she embarked on a challenging path. She meticulously gathered their documents, navigated bureaucratic hurdles, and filled out applications for them. As a result of her dedicated efforts, around 30 deserving women received financial support of approximately 10,000 rupees each to start their household businesses.
Commenting on this transformative initiative, Vinod Kulkarni, CSR Head at Tata Motors, stated, "Sameena Shaikh's dedication and the success of this initiative are testaments to the transformative power of empowerment. At Tata Motors, we believe in creating profound and lasting impacts on individuals and communities through our CSR initiatives. Sameena's work exemplifies our commitment to fostering resilience, self-sufficiency, and positive change within society."
These empowered beneficiaries are now poised to launch small-scale enterprises, including bangle shops, fish vendors, vegetable sellers, and flower stalls. This economic empowerment has helped fortify the fight against malnutrition by equipping these families with resilience, from relapsing under poverty. Today, over 96% malnourished children in and around slums in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad under the project, are certified to be healthy on a sustained level showing symptoms of good motors skills and reasonable cognition.
Through initiatives like these, Tata Motors continues to be a catalyst for positive change in society.
