OREANDA-NEWS. Tata Power, India's largest integrated power company, has continuously endeavoured to improve the quality of life of communities around its area of operations. In order to enhance the socio-economic standard of residents around its operations, Tata Power’s Jamshedpur team organised a two day orientation training on self-help groups (SHGs) for women of Supudera.

The programme witnessed active and enthusiastic participation from more than 100 women and young girls. Emphasis was placed on group formation and practicing Panchasutra (regular meetings, regular savings, regular inter-loaning, timely repayment, and maintaining up-to-date books of accounts). To provide them with an opportunity to enhance their livelihood, there was a deliberation on different government schemes and way forward.

The next stage of the initiative entails developing group norms, leadership development on linkages, which include capacity building, micro investment plan, strengthening the existing livelihoods of the members, linkages with banks and creating social capital. Opportunities for supplementing income for these women were also explored.

Speaking on the initiative, DS Kudalkar, head, Jojobera Station, said, “We will make all efforts to empower our communities. The efforts towards formation of SHG for ladies in our community reaffirm our commitment to becoming a neighbour of choice. This process of engaging with underprivileged women in order to make them self-reliant helps in improving their quality of life. We hope that these ladies will undertake many self-employment ventures.”

Tata Power's Jojobera unit has already developed a SHG among tribal ladies who work inside the plant as contract workers for managing pantry work. The women from the Pragati self-help group saved money for over one year and after due process were given contract work to manage the pantry which resulted in increasing their monthly income by Rs1,700.