The Aditya Aluminium has taken innovative CSR initiatives including promoting self-help groups (SHGs) and helping rural women start ventures like pisciculture, poultry farming, horticulture, phenyl production, and tailoring in Sambalpur district.
COO of Aditya Aluminium Bibhu Mishra said, “We have facilitated the formation of as many as 49 women SHGs in the last three years and encouraged women to explore income generating activities. Today, nearly 50 per cent of these 49 SHGs have opportunity to earn a livelihood. Most of them have got bank linkages and government benefits.”
The pisciculture project by Nikhil SHG in Bhuliadihi village has led to earning a profit of `1, 26,000 per annum. Members laxmi Naik and Susama Meher of the SHG have invested their share of profits in providing better education to their children.
likewise phenyl production by Maa laxmi SHG of Pondaloi is fetching their members `6,000 per month. This SHG has worked to improve employment opportunities and an increase in their participation in economic activities.
Besides, Aditya Aluminium is also supporting rural SHGs in creating area-specific and need-based livelihood programmes. Women of the locality who were earlier engaged in hazardous jobs like bidi making due to compulsion, are now suitably engaged through these SHGs.
Aditya Aluminium, in association with the district administration and NGOs, has been organising training programmes on health, social, economic and livelihood issues for the local women to help them comprehend their capacity to modify the system for the next generation. Programmes like mega SHG meets and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan are organised at regular intervals to educate people on various socio-economic and health issues.
“Steps taken by Aditya Aluminium for women empowerment through awareness, education, livelihood programmes are impressive and we deeply appreciate the move,” commented Bomaloi Panchayat Sarpanch Shubhadra Bag.