They are called Tejaswinis – the privileged ladies with a glow of empowerment. They are
not the members of just another women’s self-help group in the state. They are special ones, with a special dedication
to the spirit of self-help. A dedication that reflects on the splendid achievement of their objectives.
The Rural Development wing of Tata Steel has established 300 such SHGs in Orissa with the active
participation by thousands of enthusiastic women and in the process has set a unique example of how united efforts by economically
deprived women can open gateways to their financial empowerment. All members of these groups are called
Tejaswinis. The SHGs run by Tejawinis are spread over various areas of the state such as Kalinga
Nagar, Sukinda, and Bichakundi.
These women generate substantial income through activities such as farming, gardening, stone
carving, saura painting and also small industries like phenyl and pickle making. Not that such activities have
not been attempted by women before, either individually or in groups. But what makes the enterprises of Tejaswinis special is
the facilitation extended by the Tata Steel Rural Development Society (TSRDS) by providing both the backward and forward linkages
to the SHGs.
The TSRDS takes care to provide support right from the supply of raw materials to the fag
end marketing of products to the enterprising women which in turn boosts their rate of success in the income generating
activities. Most important of all the society also ensures that the SHGs get adequate capital support by arranging credit
facilities for them. Such a wholesome approach seems to be the secret behind the success of this great experiment in
economical empowerment of women.
The TSRDS has taken special pains to facilitate sale of the entire ranges of items produced
by Tejaswinis. For example the paper packets manufactured by one SHG is being promoted in the nearby Sukinda town by linking
it with an environmental initiative of making the township polythene free. The saura paintings made by another SHG have been
highlighted in the fairs organised by Orissa Rural Development and Marketing Society. Besides, Tata Steel itself has started
purchasing these paintings for being used as gift items in corporate circles. Elsewhere the saplings developed by the nursery
of an SHG are purchased by a Tata Steel sponsored Waste Land Development Programme.
Thus tangible support provided to the women members of these SHGs has enabled them to enact
their success story. They have set an example of sorts which provides and ought to be emulated by the SHGs in other areas
of the state.
The Tata Steel’s spirit of corporate social responsibility has been the driving force
behind the success of this unique experiment in women’s micro-entrepreneurship. According to Mr. B.Muthuraman, the managing
director of Tata Steel, efforts to aid broader community work works wonders for the company’s composite performance.
“For us corporate social responsibility is not a post-profit activity but a pre-profit activity, seen as a part
of steel making,” adds Mr. Sanjiv Paul, vice-president of the company.
This reminds us of large ads in newspapers inserted by the Tata Steel in the 1970s
highlighting social messages of contemporary relevance, with a precise line at the bottom in small fonts: “We
also make steel”.
