Encouraged by the success of “Tejaswini” program launched at Kalinganagar where TATA Steel is setting up a 6 million tonne integrated steel plant, the program is being expanded by the Company to other operational areas.
This is being replicated in existing operational locations in Odisha and in Gopalpur project area. To facilitate empowerment, especially for tribal women, the Company launched the initiative two years back in Kalinganagar area.
Believing strongly that real empowerment can be achieved only when all members of society benefit equally from industrial and economic development, Tata Steel is organising the Inter-Self Help Group “Tejaswini” Competition at Gobarghati Rehabilitation Colony since last two years.
As a result, the Company has achieved significant success in attaining women’s empowerment in terms of their ability to take important decisions impacting their families, contributing to the family incomes, participating in capacity building process and leadership development initiatives in 70 villages in and around Kalinganagar.
Interestingly, the ‘Tejaswini Programme’ is one of TATA Steel’s initiatives to empower women by creating for them role models who will define the way forward in society as well as in industry.
To identify the ‘Tejaswinis’ of Kalinga Nagar, a six month long competition is set in motion amongst the community of women, through self-help groups, to assess their creative and leadership qualities. Last year, around 1,000 tribal and non-tribal women participate in this assessment process from 50 peripheral villages of Kalinganagar, through 65 women SHGs.
The support provided by TATA Steel to the Tejaswinis has made a difference to their lives. It has enabled them to not only sell their products in the local market but also outside of it. They are now engaged in various income generating activities like poultry farming, gardening, stone carving, Saura painting and in setting up of small units like phenyl and pickle-making, among others.
For instance, Maa Bhuasuni Self Help Group located in Kainjira near Kalinganagar in Jajpur district was formed in 2007. Having 17 members, the group was confined only to lending of interest free loan to the members.
It won the 1st prize in the Inter- SHG “Tejaswini” competition held in 2010 and won a cash award of INR 20, 000. With this amount, they started a poultry farm and availed further fund linkage from the bank.
Now they have more than 300 chicks in their poultry farm and each member is able to earn about INR 1000 per month, adding to the prosperity of their families.
(Sourced from www.orissadiary.com)
