Ahemdabad, 17 July 2024: Ambuja Cements, the cement and building material company of the diversified Adani Portfolio, is committed to empowering rural women through the setting up of 70 self-help groups (SHGs) near its Marwar Mundwa plant. Through CSR efforts, 787 women from this rural region have begun their journeys towards self-reliance and financial independence.

Ambuja Cements’ CSR teams have been fostering women-run SHGs in the remotest areas around Marwar Mundwa, by encouraging them to save money, both collectively and individually, as well as engaging in income-generating activities.

These women members began with a modest monthly saving of ₹20 each and have now reached a substantial corpus of ₹84.82 lakh, which they utilise for funding various micro-enterprises. Each SHG has an average credit availability of ₹1.21 lakh, supported by a revolving fund of ₹6.05 lakh and an internal lending rate of 74.13% of the corpus.

Despite societal norms and financial constraints, these rural women were resolute in their pursuit of economic improvement and better futures for their children. CSR teams organised monthly meetings and trainings for the members on various business aspects, enabling them to start and manage businesses effectively. Many women engaged in diverse income-generating activities, including agriculture, animal husbandry, vegetable and provision stores, beauty parlours, tailoring, handicrafts, oil mills, flour mills, goat rearing, and rural startups.

The collective efforts of the SHG members led to the formation of the ‘Maru Shree Vikas Samiti’ a federation that markets traditional spices and other products produced by rural women. It serves as a market linkage platform, creating business opportunities and supporting women in their specific areas. The CSR teams have also helped women members avail various State and Central Government benefit schemes.

The SHGs also promote education, particularly for girls, and address health issues like malnutrition and infant mortality. The SHG women’s encouragement to their daughters to pursue higher education has significantly improved education levels in the region.

These comprehensive CSR interventions from Ambuja Cements have transformed the lives of rural women in Marwar Mundwa, setting a benchmark for sustainable and inclusive community development. Ambuja Cements is committed to enhancing the economic and social status of rural women, ensuring a brighter and more equitable future for all.