TNS India Foundation, established in 2012, is a non-profit organization driving economic change in India, with a particular emphasis on empowering women. Led by Rupa Bohra, the Managing Director, the foundation connects individuals with opportunities that generate lasting benefits for communities.
Rupa, leveraging over two decades of experience in finance and development, has cultivated partnerships with major corporations and foundations, advancing the foundation's mission to support vulnerable communities.
In this interview with TheCSRUniverse, Rupa discusses TNS India Foundation's impactful initiatives for economic transformation. Under her leadership, the foundation has significantly expanded, developing robust programs focused on youth employability, agriculture, and women's entrepreneurship. Rupa further shares insights into the foundation's strategies for women's empowerment, initiatives benefiting farmers, their vision for local economic development, and youth skill development programs aimed at creating a brighter future in both urban and rural areas.
Read the full interview below for more insights.
Q&A
Q. TNS India Foundation champions women's empowerment. What specific strategies does the foundation use to empower women in leadership and personal growth?
A. The TNS India Foundation tackles women's empowerment through its women-centric programs and a few key strategies:
• Focus on economic opportunities spans three primary areas:
• Employability: Through the Youth Skill Ability Program, 60% of beneficiaries are women who gain skills to enter the formal workforce. This directly addresses economic empowerment by providing stable income opportunities.
• Entrepreneurship: The foundation supports existing women entrepreneurs by helping them scale their businesses and achieve economic growth.
• Agriculture: Besides agricultural training, women farmers receive knowledge on government schemes for farmers, banking, and financial literacy.
Our approach extends beyond mere economic opportunities. We believe in nurturing the holistic empowerment of women, encompassing their personal and professional growth. Through targeted interventions, we equip women with the confidence, skills, and knowledge needed to thrive in various spheres of life, be it employability, entrepreneurship, and agriculture.
• Leadership by women: The organization itself is a strong example of female leadership. The Managing Director and a large portion of the staff are women, creating a supportive environment for the women they assist.
Overall, the TNS India Foundation aims to dismantle barriers that hold women back and equip them to be the drivers of their economic success.
Q. In what ways do your programs make a positive difference in the lives of farmers?
A. The TNS India Foundation focuses on several programs to improve the lives of farmers:
TNS India Foundation has two flagship projects that are implemented in the rural livelihood area with a focus on income enhancement including:
Ankur Uday, in Nashik, Maharashtra (2021-2024), in collaboration with Pernod Ricard India Foundation. The program has:
• Sustainably improved livelihoods of 1,500 small and marginal farmers
• Built farmer capacity and strengthened local institutions to promote regenerative, sustainable, and remunerative agricultural value chains
• Enhanced local water recharge capacity by conserving 50 lakh litres per year by making water resources more accessible and sustainable
• Created local governance structures and empowered women towards better socio-economic outcomes by training them on financial literacy and business skills.
Sustainable Mango Initiative, Gir, Gujarat (2020-23), with HDFC Bank. The program has:
• Trained more than 1,200 farmers in agri-tech, strengthening local mango production systems.
• Set up 14 water user committees for the management of water resources.
• Promoted Organic Kitchen Gardens (OKGs) among 1000 farming households.
• Set up a Farmer Producer Organization with more than 500 shareholders, and helped it generate revenues of more than INR 70 lakhs in 1 year.
By focusing on these programs, TNS empowers farmers to become more successful and secure a better income, which leads to a positive impact on their livelihoods and the rural communities they are part of.
Q. What is your vision for local economic development programs, and how do these programs facilitate personal and community growth?
A. UN-Habitat defines Local Economic Development as a participatory process where local people from all sectors work together to stimulate local commercial activity. It aims to result in a resilient and sustainable economy, creating decent jobs and improving the quality of life for everyone, including the poor and marginalized.
At TNS India Foundation, our vision is to create shared value by executing demand-driven, industry-relevant, sustainable solutions to stimulate socio-economic growth. We work in the areas of youth employability, Agriculture & Natural Resource Management, and Women Entrepreneurship. A marquee feature of our programs is its alignment with local economic development approach. Our aim is to democratize access to opportunities for under-resourced individuals to unlock their economic potential, while focusing on diversity and inclusion, by building sustainable growth systems.
Our programs on the one hand focus on reducing the vulnerabilities of the poor and on the other hand on enhancing the basket of livelihood opportunities available to them, thereby enhancing their resilience, which in turn would stimulate the local economy. We see the local economic development approach to be in line with the overall development agenda and acknowledge its importance in transforming lives.
Q. What skills is TNS India Foundation developing in youth to enhance their quality of life in rural and urban areas?
A. The TNS India Foundation is dedicated to empowering youth across diverse socio-economic landscapes, fostering their growth through tailored skill development initiatives in both urban and rural settings.
Urban Focus:
In urban environments, our programs cater to the dynamic needs of students, equipping them with essential skills through initiatives such as:
• Campus to Careers Program: - This program is meticulously designed to bridge the gap between academia and industry requirements. It provides students with comprehensive training tailored to their academic backgrounds and career aspirations.
• Campus to Financial Careers:-Recognizing the importance of the financial sector in urban economies, this initiative focuses on grooming students for careers in finance. Participants undergo specialized training to excel in this competitive field.
• Campus to Technical Careers Program:-Technical proficiency is increasingly vital in today's job market. This program ensures that students acquire not only technical skills but also soft skills crucial for success in their chosen careers. It hones their ability to effectively communicate and present themselves, enhancing their employability.
By integrating technical expertise with soft skills development, our urban programs empower youth to thrive in the 21st-century job market, thus elevating their economic prospects.
Rural Focus:
Even in semi-rural and rural areas, our commitment to youth empowerment remains unwavering. We prioritize programs that align with local industries, catalyzing growth and prosperity. Key initiatives include:
• Campus to Industrial Careers:-Recognizing the potential of the manufacturing sector in rural economies, this program connects aspiring youth with opportunities in industrial settings. Through specialized training and mentorship, participants acquire the skills needed to excel in manufacturing roles.
By facilitating the symbiotic growth of businesses and youth in rural areas, the Campus to Industrial Careers program fosters economic independence and empowerment.
Q. What are TNS India Foundation's plans for advancing women's empowerment?
A. TNS India Foundation plans to create and execute programs with a focus on women. Our goal is to improve women's access to opportunities. In our training programs, we not only equip women with job-relevant skills but also guide their families to overcome their concerns about formal workplaces. Additionally, we strive to ensure that at least 60% of the beneficiaries in our employability programs are women.
In urban areas, we concentrate on fostering women entrepreneurship by providing extensive training in essential business skills and expanding their market reach, thereby increasing their earnings and influence in household decision-making.
In rural settings, our agricultural programs engage individual women and women's self-help groups (SHGs) in local village development. These groups receive empowerment through financial education, business advisory services, and training in activities such as organic kitchen gardening to address their families' nutritional requirements.
Looking forward, our goal is to positively impact over 50,000 individuals annually, with a significant focus on empowering women. Our efforts aim not only to increase income opportunities but also to catalyze economic transformation for women across both urban and rural communities.
