Tejaswini Training Programme

The successful functioning of Self Help Groups (SHGs) and various other women empowerment activities undertaken by Tata Steel for the rehabilitated families of Tata Steel Parivar has set an example for others. While the literacy level has increased significantly for women of Tata Parivar families in last four years, all of them now have round-the-clock access to the modern medical services provided by Tata Steel’s Rehabilitation and Resettlement team. This has resulted in reducing the maternal mortality rate to zero with much better level of antenatal care, zero adolescence pregnancy and better understanding of family planning needs.

A few salient features of Tata Steel’s Women Empowerment Programme in the rehabilitation colonies have been discussed below.

Empowerment through SHGs

The Tata Steel Parivar Women SHGs are no longer micro-credit institutions only; they are part of a vibrant social institution devoted to all-round development of the people. In Resettlement and Rehabilitation, women of SHGs have taken proactive roles towards improving the quality of life in all aspects. From encouraging children to attend schools and monitoring their progress to conducting forums where healthcare issues are discussed, women SHG members have proved their worth beyond doubt.

More than 60% of the women members of Tata Parivar have launched income generation programmes with an objective of making their families economically sustainable. At the moment there are 22 all-women Tata Parivar SHGs. In order to achieve better levels of income, the rehabilitation and resettlement team of Tata Steel is continuously imparting Capacity Building Training in the sectors Soura Painting, Stitching, Poultry & Goat Rearing and Computer based literacy programmes. Even girls are availing technical education through Tata Steel Parivar Scholarship programmes.

The Tejaswini Training Programme, designed by Tata Steel aims at empowering women for a developed society, providing them opportunities of alternative livelihood and educating them about their role in sustainable industrialisation and development of their own community and region. The tribal women members near Kalinganagar area in Odisha are being trained to undertake various activities and become self-sufficient.

As a first step in this direction, a training-cum-exposure visit was organised for 17 tribal women, who belong to different SHGs, at Gandhi Labour Foundation, Puri. Tata Steel makes it a point to educate the SHGs in terms of enhancing productivity, acquiring loans, in market planning of products and utilisation of funds through workshops and exposure visits. The participants were also taken on a trip to Pipili to get an idea of the appliqué industry there and develop interest in different crafts for livelihood earning.

Sagen and Sarjam Sakam

Two women self-help groups (SHGs), supported by Tata Steel Rural Development Society (TSRDS) have begun the process of bringing into the forefront women empowerment activities for the members of Tata Steel Parivar. The first, ‘SAGEN’, has been started with 20 women with active support from Tata Steel Rural Development Society. SHG members have now started making mats and brooms, which are marketed locally. ‘Sarjam Sakam’, the other SHG in Trijanga rehabilitation colony comprising seventeen members has been awarded by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Odisha, Shri Naveen Patnaik on February 08, 2009. It has started a number of income-generation activities with the guidance of TSRDS.