September 14th, 2023 : Thirteen-year-old D Varshini belongs to a marginalised section of a village located in the proximity of the Reddipalayam Cement Works, an integrated manufacturing unit of UltraTech Cement Limited in the Ariyalur district of Tamil Nadu. In 5th standard, Varshini had to drop out of her regular school to support her family in household chores.
Recently, however, the teenager joined the state-funded residential school, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya in 6th standard. Unfortunately, Varshini and other girls from similar background would soon drop out of the school yet again since it lacked proper residential and academic facilities. The 50 girls in the school, who were all from the same rural, underdeveloped, and minority communities as Varshini, went through identical experiences.
The Reddipalayam Cement Works Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) team recognised the importance of providing the girls with a supportive atmosphere after conducting an on-the-ground evaluation survey of their living and learning environments at the school. One of the key issues faced by the girls was that they had to sit on the floor hunched to write, resulting in back pain. The team identified the same and provided foldable, portable, and detachable study tables as well as lightweight school bags to the girls. The tables could be adjusted at two heights and allowed the girls to sit upright while studying, as well as write comfortably. The unit team also constructed two concrete water tanks, a platform, and a shed at the ground level, so that the girls could easily wash and dry their clothes which they otherwise had to do in their classrooms.
Post the intervention, the academic performance of the students has increased substantially, and their dropout rates have also decreased, due to the availability of better academic and housing facilities. This will significantly contribute to the girls' empowerment and financial independence.
.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. UltraTech’s CSR focus areas are education, healthcare, sustainable livelihoods, community infrastructure and social causes. UltraTech reaches out to more than 1.6 million beneficiaries in over 500 villages in 16 states across India.
