Empowering Rural Women: UltraTech Celebrates International Day of Rural Women

This year, on the occasion of International Day of Rural Women, UltraTech Cement Limited celebrates the resilience, strength, and entrepreneurial spirit of rural women across India. Through its diverse and impactful Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, UltraTech continues to champion women empowerment and skill development, and promote sustainable livelihoods, and has touched the lives of thousands of people. Aiming to drive positive change beyond business through the Company’s CSR initiatives, UltraTech focuses its programmes around providing access to education, healthcare, livelihood opportunities, and community well-being.

Andhra Pradesh Cement Works, UltraTech’s integrated cement manufacturing unit in Anantpur district, Andhra Pradesh, identified the need for women empowerment initiatives through direct engagement with local communities, and the development and promotion of diverse livelihood activities while also creating income-generating opportunities. The Spoorti Works Initiative aims to empower rural women by training them in locally relevant skills and creating market linkages, like tailoring and stitching uniforms for employees at the unit, Maggam work, jute bag making, and banana fibre products. The programme has helped over 1500 women become financially independent. Many of these women have gone on to start their own businesses, earning an average monthly income of up to Rs. 15,000, significantly improving their financial stability and independence.

Awarpur Cement Works, UltraTech’s integrated cement manufacturing unit in Chandrapur district, Maharashtra, focuses on provision and access to livelihood development as well as healthcare for women in local communities. The unit has launched various skill development programmes and assistance for locals, such as supporting the procurement of Automatic Agarbatti Making Machines, IT literacy courses and professional car driving training, and aims to equip each person with at least 2 skill sets that can generate sustainable livelihoods. The unit also undertakes healthcare initiatives for rural women, and has initiated mobile medical camps and the installation of sanitary vending machines at two schools in the area, as well as awareness drives on menstrual hygiene.

Manikgarh Cement Works, UltraTech’s second integrated cement manufacturing unit in Chandrapur district, Maharashtra, also provides local communities with livelihood assistance and healthcare support. The unit promotes the production of items such as bamboo craft and incense sticks, as well as the provision of training in initiatives such as production of vermicompost, tailoring and beauty-parlour skills. It also engages with locals through awareness sessions on vital topics such as breastfeeding for children, menstrual hygiene, hand washing, as well as Project Raksha, an initiative aimed at improving anemic conditions of many rural women and adolescents in the region. Over 1600 women have benefitted from these unit-led initiatives alone.

Project Asha, the flagship skill development initiative of Gujarat Cement Works, UltraTech’s integrated cement manufacturing unit in Amreli district, Gujarat, is centered around transforming lives, creating sustainable livelihoods, and responding meaningfully to community needs. Many women have been trained intensively in pant-shirt and school uniform stitching by the unit and have secured confirmed orders of over Rs one lakh through this initiative. Project Asha is now expanding its footprint and has signed a memorandum of understanding to provide over 300 uniforms to Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas in the Jafrabad Taluka.

UltraTech undertakes its social initiatives under the aegis of The Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development with Mrs. Rajashree Birla as its Chairperson. The key focus areas are education, healthcare, sustainable livelihoods, community infrastructure and social causes. The Company reaches out to more than 1.8 million beneficiaries in over 500 villages in 16 states across India.