New Delhi, August 25, 2023. Ambuja Cement Foundation (ACF) has joined forces with SLB Limited to initiate Community Development Programs in Rajasthan's Barmer district. This collaboration aims to bring positive changes to the lives of local residents through targeted initiatives. ACF's efforts will focus on empowering women, providing support for adolescent girls, and enhancing water accessibility for households.The project will span 5 villages within the Gudamalini block of Barmer, benefiting over 7200 individuals across 2300 households. In line with the Women Empowerment initiative, ACF aims to uplift women from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The project area is characterized by a traditional rural setup where women face limited opportunities and decision-making power. ACF and SLB Limited aim to mobilize and organize these women into self-help groups (SHGs) to foster self-reliance.
The joint program will reinforce the existing 42 SHGs through training sessions, exposure visits, and income generation activities. ACF will also introduce social security schemes, stakeholder meetings, and workshops within the villages. Additionally, adolescent girls will be a focus, with ACF offering training in nutrition, health education, life skills, and access to public services. Health check-ups, counseling, and guidance on family welfare will also be provided.To enhance water access throughout the year, ACF plans to encourage households to adopt Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting systems. This initiative will enable rainwater collection for drinking water within homes, with a water storage capacity of 10,000 liters.Although Barmer lies beyond Ambuja Foundation's current operational geography, ACF's extensive experience in remote rural areas allows the replication of successful program models. Rajasthan remains a high-priority state for ACF's community development work, and the partnership with SLB Limited will leverage regional expertise to benefit the Barmer community.
Ms. Pearl Tiwari, CEO, Ambuja Cement Foundation said, “We are pleased to have a partnership with SLB Limited and launch these transformative projects in Barmer. We not only aim to empower women, but buildtheir confidence to overcome the many varied social problems they face. The partnership helps us take a step forward towards our vision of rural prosperity and we look forward to empowering these women to become agents of change in their families and communities”.
