In a recent interview with TheCSRUniverse, R S Jalan, Director of GHCL Textiles, shared insights into the impactful role of GHCL Foundation Trust in advancing rural development across Tamil Nadu. GHCL’s strategic CSR initiatives focus on addressing core areas such as agriculture, health, education, and women’s empowerment, all tailored to meet the unique needs of communities in Madurai and Manapparai. The foundation emphasizes sustainable agricultural practices, accessible healthcare, skill-based education, and economic empowerment for women, notably through skill training in traditional crafts and entrepreneurship support. With 80% of its workforce in these areas being female, GHCL Textiles prioritizes women-led programs, aiming to address both social and economic barriers while promoting leadership and financial independence among women. Through these comprehensive initiatives, GHCL Foundation Trust is dedicated to creating lasting, positive change for rural communities.
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Q. Could you briefly explain the role of GHCL Foundation Trust in Tamil Nadu and its core focus areas for CSR initiatives?
A. GHCL Foundation is dedicated to fostering rural development in Tamil Nadu through strategic CSR initiatives focused on Agriculture, Health, Education, and Women Empowerment. Our efforts are grounded in a comprehensive needs assessment conducted in the regions of Madurai and Manapparai, ensuring that our interventions effectively address the specific challenges faced by local communities.
Agriculture and Animal Husbandry:
GHCL Foundation is promoting sustainable agricultural practices through pest and disease management, subsidy support, and the adoption of modern technologies. Enhancing livestock health and productivity by implementing disease management programs and providing necessary support. Contributing to environmental conservation through afforestation and soil testing initiatives.
Health:
- The Foundation is collaborating with government agencies and NGOs to provide accessible healthcare services, including mobile medical units and equipment for primary health centres.
- Prioritizing women and adolescent girls' health by organizing programs focused on anaemia, cancer screening, menstrual hygiene, maternal health, and breastfeeding.
- Promoting public health initiatives such as dengue awareness, polio vaccination drives, and blood donation camps.
Education:
Partnering with educational institutions to enhance educational opportunities and outcomes. Providing computer skill training, infrastructure support, scholarship assistance, teachers’ assistance program (hire teachers for computer Education/English) and financial assistance to evening tuition centres to improve access to quality education.
Women Empowerment:
- Empowering women through skill development programs in traditional crafts, entrepreneurship training, and computer literacy.
- Facilitating exposure visits to small-scale industries to inspire women to pursue entrepreneurial ventures.
- Supporting women's economic participation through partnerships with government agencies and NGOs.
- Through these focused initiatives, GHCL Foundation is committed to making a positive and lasting impact on the lives of rural communities in Tamil Nadu.
Q. Why has GHCL Textiles prioritized women-led programs, and what makes this approach central to your community engagement strategy?
A. GHCL Textiles' commitment to women-led programs is rooted in our deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by rural women in the communities we serve. Through our needs assessment, we identified several key factors that make empowering women a central component of our community engagement strategy.
Economic Hardship: Rural women often bear a disproportionate burden of household responsibilities, including education for children and healthcare expenses. As agricultural activities decline, alternative livelihood options become increasingly essential.
Limited Opportunities: Many rural women are unable to access opportunities outside their villages due to factors such as distance, lack of transportation, and societal constraints. This limits their ability to earn a sustainable income.
Social Barriers: Alcoholism among men in some households can add to economic challenges, further impacting women's well-being.
Community Engagement: Women led programs provide a platform for engaging with Self-Help Groups (SHGs), fostering a sense of community and empowerment.
By prioritizing these programs, GHCL Foundation aims to address challenges, create sustainable livelihoods, and empower women to become active participants in their communities.
Q. With an 80% female workforce, what specific challenges do women in Madurai and Manapparai face, and how are these addressed through your programs?
A. Given that 80% of our workforce in Madurai and Manapparai is female, we recognize the unique challenges women face in balancing their professional and personal lives. To address these challenges, we have implemented several programs that provide essential support:
Accessible Healthcare: Our mobile medical units offer doorstep healthcare services, reducing the financial burden of travel and medical expenses for families. This ensures that women can access necessary care without compromising their work responsibilities.
Livestock Support: Our livestock camps provide essential veterinary care and vaccinations, assisting women in maintaining their livestock and generating additional income.
Employment Opportunities: The visibility of our programs has empowered rural women to seek employment opportunities at GHCL Textiles units. This not only provides a sustainable income but also contributes to their professional development.
By addressing these specific challenges, we aim to create a supportive environment that enables women to thrive both in their careers and personal lives.
Q. How does the skill training provided by GHCL Foundation, such as sewing, jute bag making, and embroidery, contribute to women’s financial independence?
A. The skill training programs offered by GHCL Foundation, such as sewing, jute bag making, and embroidery, are designed to equip women with the tools necessary for financial independence.
Self-Employed Businesses: Approximately 30% of our beneficiaries have successfully launched their own businesses, selling their products directly to customers or through intermediaries.
Leverage Machinery Assistance: With the support of the VaazhndhuKaattuvom Project (VKP), women in Kalingapatti and Rayampatti villages have established business units using machinery, expanding their production capacity and income potential.
Tap into Local Markets: Women in Manapparai have identified and capitalized on local market opportunities, taking orders for items like wire baskets, nightgowns, and jute bags.
Explore Diverse Product Lines: Some women have diversified their offerings by combining their skills in embroidery with traditional textiles, creating unique and marketable products.
Through these initiatives, GHCL Foundation is empowering women to become self-sufficient and contribute to the economic development of their communities.
Q. Could you elaborate on how GHCL Foundation assesses the needs of rural women and customizes training programs accordingly?
A. GHCL Foundation employs a comprehensive needs assessment process to ensure that our training programs effectively address the specific challenges and aspirations of rural women.
Stakeholder Consultation: Engaging with key stakeholders, including village panchayat leaders, Self-Help Group (SHG) leaders, and progressive women leaders, to gain a deep understanding of their needs and priorities.
Needs Ranking Exercise: Utilizing a success ranking exercise to prioritize the most pressing needs of the community, ensuring that our interventions focus on areas of greatest impact.
Knowledge Partner Collaboration: Collaborating with our knowledge partners from the VaazhndhuKaattuvom Project (VKP) to assess market trends and identify potential synergies with existing government schemes.
By conducting a thorough needs assessment and leveraging the expertise of our partners, GHCL Foundation is able to develop training programs that are highly relevant, practical, and responsive to the evolving needs of rural women.
Q. What impact have these skill training initiatives had on the local economy, and how are they shaping women’s roles as breadwinners and leaders in their communities?
A. The skill training initiatives implemented by GHCL Foundation have had a significant impact on the local economy and have empowered women to become breadwinners and leaders within their communities.
Increased Income: After completing our training programs, women are able to earn an average of Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 5,000 per month, significantly improving their financial situation.
Economic Participation: This newfound income has enabled women to contribute to household expenses and make independent decisions, enhancing their economic participation.
Community Leadership: As women gain financial independence, they are becoming more active participants in decision-making processes within their families and communities. Their increased confidence and economic empowerment are fostering a new generation of women leaders.
By providing women with the skills and resources to generate income, GHCL Foundation is not only improving their livelihoods but also contributing to the overall economic development of the region.
Q. Can you provide some data or success stories on how women trained by GHCL Foundation have transitioned into entrepreneurship or secured employment?
A. The skill training initiatives undertaken by GHCL Foundation have been effective in empowering women and facilitating their transition into entrepreneurship or employment.
High Enrolment: The number of women enrolled in the various training programs indicates strong interest and participation.
Successful Certification: A significant number of women have successfully completed the training programs, demonstrating their dedication and ability to acquire new skills.
Employment Opportunities: The data shows that a considerable portion of the trained women have secured employment, suggesting that the skills acquired through the training programs are relevant and marketable.
Entrepreneurship: The average income of the trained women suggests that many have successfully transitioned into entrepreneurship.
Overall, the data suggests that the skill training programs have been instrumental in empowering women, providing them with the tools and confidence to pursue economic opportunities and improve their livelihoods.
Q. How do income-generating activities like running provision stores and home-made snacks businesses help in fostering long-term community development?
A. Income-generating activities, such as running provision stores and home-made snacks businesses, play a crucial role in fostering long-term community development.
Empowering Women: These activities empower women by providing them with a sense of financial independence and control over their lives.
Improved Living Standards: Increased income allows women to invest in their families' well-being, including education for their children, healthcare, and improved living conditions.
Community Development: As women become more economically empowered, they are better able to participate in community development initiatives and advocate for the needs of their community members.
Economic Diversification: The growth of small businesses can contribute to the diversification of the local economy, reducing reliance on a single source of income and creating new opportunities for growth.
By supporting income-generating activities, GHCL Foundation is helping to build stronger, more resilient communities where women play a vital role in driving positive change.
Q. What measurable improvements have been seen in areas like healthcare, education, and livelihood development as a result of women’s increased participation in decision-making?
A. The increased participation of women in decision-making has yielded tangible improvements in various sectors, particularly in rural areas like Madurai and Manapparai.
Enhanced Maternal and Child Health: Women's participation has led to a greater emphasis on women's health issues, resulting in improved access to healthcare services, better nutrition, and overall health outcomes for families.
Community-Driven Healthcare: Women's involvement has facilitated the establishment of community-based healthcare initiatives, such as health camps and Mobile Medical Units (MMUs), ensuring that local health needs are effectively addressed.
Bridging Gender Gaps: It has contributed to narrowing gender disparities in education, leading to increased enrolment rates for girls and women.
Quality Education Initiatives: Through initiatives like providing scholarships, computer skills training, and infrastructure support, the GHCL Foundation has played a crucial role in improving the quality and accessibility of education.
Women Entrepreneurship: Women's participation in decision-making has created opportunities for women to become entrepreneurs, fostering economic growth and diversification.
Community-Driven Development: Women's leadership has enabled communities to identify and address development needs related to agriculture, infrastructure, and resource management, leading to more sustainable and inclusive development.
These measurable improvements demonstrate the powerful impact of women's leadership in driving positive change and fostering more equitable and inclusive communities.
Q. Looking ahead, how does GHCL Foundation plan to expand its women empowerment programs and what are the key metrics you will use to evaluate their success?
A. As we look ahead, GHCL Foundation is committed to expanding it’s women empowerment programs while prioritizing sustainability. To address challenges such as market instability, we will focus on the following key areas:
Digital Skills Development: We will incorporate training in social media marketing to equip women with the skills necessary to navigate and leverage digital platforms for business growth and networking.
Synergizing with Partners: We will explore opportunities to merge relevant schemes from the VaazhndhuKaattuvom Project (VKP) with our programs, maximizing resources and benefits for our beneficiaries.
To evaluate the success of our expanded programs, we will employ the following metrics:
Increased Income: We will measure the increase in income generated by women participating in our programs.
Improved Livelihoods: We will assess the positive impact on women's livelihoods, including factors such as financial stability, quality of life, and decision-making power.
Community Engagement: We will evaluate the extent to which women are actively participating in community development initiatives and leadership roles.
Sustainability: We will monitor the sustainability of women's businesses and their ability to adapt to changing market conditions.
By focusing on these key areas and utilizing these metrics, GHCL Foundation aims to ensure that our women empowerment programs continue to make a lasting and sustainable impact on the lives of rural women.
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