Delhi, March 15, 2024: With the commitment to drive societal progress through dignified livelihood opportunities, ITC’s Sunfeast YiPPee! has launched an initiative to support the livelihood journey of entrepreneurial women from underprivileged socio-economic backgrounds.
The YiPPee! Live Better Programme programme is being implemented in partnership with NGO Prayatna to support women in Delhi-NCR to operate their own food-carts and earn better livelihood.
As a part of the initiative the programme has trained the women with a series of tailored sessions and workshops, and equipped them with the necessary skills, certifications, and knowledge to achieve entrepreneurial success and financial independence. To kick-start the livelihood journey of these women, the initiative has commenced the process of providing the women with mobile food-carts, necessary equipment, and an initial investment in the form of goods and raw-material.
An event was conducted in Noida on March 8 for the first phase of handing over the food-carts and other equipment to the participants of the programme. The programme will continue to hand-hold the women in the foreseeable future to ensure a continued support in their livelihood journey.
Speaking about the initiative, Kavita Chaturvedi, Chief Operating Officer, Snacks Noodles & Pasta, ITC Ltd, said, "ITC is a global exemplar in sustainability with multi-dimensional initiatives for supporting large scale livelihoods. Sunfeast YiPPee! has embarked on a journey to build an environment where women can flourish and independently develop their source of livelihood. By using our resources and expertise, we are confident to bring positive change in the lives of these women.”
"Empowering women is at the heart of our mission. Through strategic collaborations like this, we aim to create tangible opportunities for women to thrive and succeed in their endeavours." remarked Pratik, Head of NGO Prayatna.
With the successful distribution of food-carts and ongoing support mechanisms in place, the YiPPee! Live Better Programme stands as a beacon of hope for women across Delhi-NCR, signalling a brighter, better, and empowered future.
Women, especially poor women in rural areas, remain the invisible backbone of their households and communities. However, their many disadvantages - poor education, limited opportunities for skills training, few property rights, restrictive social norms - mean low-paying labour work is often their only option. Whatever they earn is almost always spent on improving the quality of life of their families
ITC's initiative will provide these women with opportunities to earn independent incomes, helping to strengthen their position as decision-makers in their families and in their communities. There is a special focus on ultra poor women - those living in extreme poverty who are the only earning members of their families and have no assets or regular incomes.
With training and financial support, women can take-up self-employment activities, set up small businesses or join together to form self-help groups or micro-enterprises. Their earnings and savings mean better education, nutrition and health for their children - a vital investment in the future of their communities. Equally important, the confidence they gain along the way is helping to break gender inequalities and build a more equal society.
