Dalmia Bharat Group, a conglomerate with interests in cement and sugar, has been undertaking programmes to empower women for International Day of Rural Women.
Through the establishment of self-help groups (SHGs), Dalmia said in a press release that 18,000 women have been provided essential skill training and access to vital resources for sustainable livelihood development.
In collaboration with various organisations Dalmia has been organising various training initiatives, like micro-enterprise development, handicraft production and others in both farming and non-farming sectors.
“All these activities are conducted in communities settled around their regions of operation across 12 states in India,” it said. “These initiatives aim to upskill rural women to empower them, diversify their income sources and provide access to formal credit systems. In the states of Assam and Meghalaya, Dalmia Bharat organises skill development and enterprise training in livestock rearing, mushroom cultivation, agri-nutri gardens, tailoring, beauty services and many more.”
Over 1,200 women in the region have become financially independent, earning a monthly income ranging from Rs 4,000 to Rs 10,000, Dalmia added.
Commenting on the company’s initiatives on International Day of Rural Women, Dalmia Bharat Foundation CEO Ashok K Gupta said, “Rural women in developing countries play a vital role in food security and economic development but face severe marginalisation, including limited land ownership, higher illiteracy rates and unequal earnings compared to men. Dalmia Bharat is dedicated to uplifting marginalised rural women through holistic programmes that bolster their income while managing household responsibilities.”
Among the initiatives are goat rearing training, income generation through sewing, training in nutrition, health and entrepreneurship options along with agri-nutri garden workshops that equip women with the knowledge to establish small-scale businesses in food processing, creating products like pickles, jams, jellies and squash from locally available produce.
