Goa Khabar : November 19, is recognised as the Women Entrepreneurship Day the world over. This year’s theme for the occasion is – ‘Empowering Dreams, Inspiring Futures’. Vedanta Sesa Goa has,over the last decade and a half, endeavoured to empower dreams and inspire futures by engaging with women community members to develop entrepreneurial and vocational skills.
The aim being to meaningfully empower women by creating pathways for financial independence through sustainable enterprises & eventual integration in the Nation’s workforce. The company’s programs directly lend themselves to the government’s effort to generate employment & improve employability for women. As per a Feb 24 data of the Ministry of Labour & Employment, the Labour Force Participation Rate for women is 37% and assimilation of women through entrepreneurial opportunities will help in further enhancing these numbers as well as help create employment opportunities. Vedanta Sesa Goa, has across its diverse geography empowered nearly 10000 women community members, through impactful initiatives under its Projects ‘Vriddhi’, ‘Jeevika’, ‘Aarogya’, ‘Gram Nirmaan’ & the Alternative Livelihood Opportunity Project (ALOP) and Project Aarogya
Reflecting on the Company’s initiatives, Mr Navin Jaju, CEO, Vedanta Sesa Goa, said “At Vedanta Sesa Goa, we are focussed on creating pathways for lasting prosperity by integrating more and more women community members in entrepreneurial pursuits. We have endeavoured to empower women through skilling in technical skills at the Sesa Technical School, vocational training at the Vedanta Tailoring Training Centres, and providing support for augmentation of farm produce & cattle / livestock rearing. Also, through our support to Self Help Groups in rural areas, we have been able to provide women opportunities & a platform to establish sustainable enterprises and to set up reliable revenue streams. We remain committed to creating lasting impact by empowering more and more women & fostering within communities.”
A key aspect of Vedanta Sesa Goa’s is the support extended to Self-Help Groups (SHGs). Sesa Goa has actively empowered approximately 20 SHGs, across five states in India, by providing them support by sourcing raw material or by providing them avenues & platforms to establish revenue streams. 11 SHGs are successfully operating in Bicholim & Amona areas of Goa & have ventured into incense stick making, dry snacks, catering services, cakes, and coconut-based products like juice and oil etc. Some of these SHGs have also partnered with the company to cater meals for plant site canteens, creating a steady source of income. Over the years, these SHGs have achieved significant milestones, including notable earnings and increased participation in local exhibitions and festivals.
Purvi, a member of Vithu Mauli Gruh Udyog, “We were introduced to the skill and business prospects of setting up a vermicelli unit by the Vedanta and Vanarai team, which was a new concept for us. After proper training and unwavering support, we have now set up our local business. We are excited to take this unique venture to greater heights and are grateful to Vedanta Ltd for identifying our passion and providing us the motivation and support to achieve financial independence.”
Vedanta Sesa Goa, in collaboration with the Vedanta Foundation, has also established six Vedanta Tailoring Training Centres (VTTCs) across Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Odisha and Karnataka. These centres offer comprehensive training curriculum certified by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), ensuring that the women receive best-in-class training which is duly recognised by the NSDC. VTTC graduates are equipped to establish small tailoring ventures, enabling them to enhance their financial stability.
Pramila Naik, Student at Vedanta Tailoring-Training Centre & Aanganwadi Sevika, Vazare, Maharasthra said “The tailoring course at the Vedanta Tailoring Training Centre has been extremely beneficial and was extremely cost-effective for us. The nominal course fee has significantly eased the process of gaining high class skills.I have gained invaluable knowledge and skills here, and I am truly grateful for this opportunity which will help me in setting up my own tailoring shop and enterprise in future.”
Another significant initiative by Sesa Goa is Project ‘Jeevika’, which focuses on equipping women with the skills to run sustainable enterprises by conducting awareness and capacity building sessions as also by providing requisite support to set up micro enterprises. This year itself, over 10 such worshops have been conducted in Bicholim Taluka of Goa and the Rengalbeda & Nadidhi villages of Odisha.This program provides targeted training in financial management, daily operations, and overall business viability, enabling women to build and sustain their enterprises. In Odisha, Project ‘jeevika’ has supported the establishment of new ventures such as mushroom cultivation and footwear manufacturing units. These projects currently benefit 6–9 SHGs and around 80 rural families in Odisha.
Speaking on the initiatives, Leena Verenkar, Head CSR, Sesa Goa said “Women are powerful agents of change, and our programs aim to harness their potential through targeted skill-building and entrepreneurial support. The success of SHGs, VTTC graduates, and Project Jeevika participants is a testament to the transformative power of these initiatives. At Vedanta Sesa Goa, our focus is on creating opportunities that lead to financial independence, self-reliance, and community progress, ensuring that our efforts resonate with the needs of the people we serve.”
In addition to these initiatives, Sesa Goa has under Project ‘Gram Nirmaan’ in Goa & ALOP in Karnataka has extended support to women community members for enhancing farm produce and cattle rearing, thus improving their capacity and ability to contribute to the farm & household income. The Company has also undertaken entrepreneurship skill development programs in Karnataka (IOK), focusing on youth, including women.
Vedanta Sesa Goa recognises the need to integrate more and more women in the entrepreneurial streams as this opens avenues for rural families to improve their socio-economic status. The company, through its initiatives, is truly ‘empowering dreams’ and ‘inspiring futures’.
