Work will be done towards gender equality and empowerment of women on International Women’s Day

While the world has been recognizing women as a transformators, ITC has long been leading in promoting gender equality and empowerment.

This year International Women’s Day is insisting on sexual equality and women’s empowerment. ITC is constantly striving in this direction, and is playing a leading role in recognizing women as a medium of change.

On this International Women’s Day, ITC through its #HERSTORY program, which is operated in Jaipur as well as in Jaipur, is strengthening the role of women power in socio-economic progress and showing its unwavering commitment.

From laboratories to rural areas, from factory workplaces to corporate boardrooms, the #HERSTORY campaign of ITC raises the voice of women who have given new shapes to industries by breaking obstacles through their patience, skills and leadership.

Promote the workplace and beyond it

ITC not only supported the empowerment of women through words, but has set an example by implementing it.

Encouraging the women’s workforce, the ITC construction units in Mysuru, Medak and Pudukottai have played a leading role in including women in the factory workplaces.

The Pudukottai unit, which has a 67% women’s workforce, an example of 100% women in Khordha, is an example of how the ITC is creating a new definition of gender diversity in the industrial area.

Empowering women in agriculture and rural enterprises

In agriculture, considered the backbone of India’s economy, traditionally women have been seen in an ally instead of a decision-maker. Although about 75% of women in the Indian agriculture field directly or indirectly contribute, they still have limited access to land ownership and decision making. ITC is challenging this situation and is constantly supporting women farmers.

Under the ITCMAR initiative, more than 1,000 farmer producing organizations (FPOs) have been set up, each FPO’s board consists of at least one female director.

In addition, 25 women FPOs have been formed, which has empowered more than 7,500 women farmers and enabled them to operate sustainable agricultural business.

Shyam Kanwar of Jhalawar, Rajasthan is an inspirational example of this. She is a widow and mother of three children, who resolved to change her life. After the sudden death of her husband, she worked as a daily wage laborer for ten years, but her life changed after joining the women’s farmer Field School run by ITC. Shyam Kanwar says, “I learned about advanced agricultural techniques, which increased my income and I was able to save. I started a small grocery store, started growing crops on my 1.2 acre land and with the help of self-help groups (SHG), bought a flour mill, deep freezer and two buffaloes also started to take care of.”

Financial freedom through entrepreneurship

Economic empowerment is a major pillar in the approach to gender inclusion of ITC. The Women’s Economic Empowerment Program has so far benefited more than 1,92,000 women, many of which were facing financial instability earlier.

Promote lead and inclusive growth

Inclusion in ITC is not limited to employment only, but it also encourages leadership. The diversity-focused recruitment policy ensures that about 50% of the management should be trainees and intern women, making them ready to play leadership roles in the organization.