Ruchi Soya Industries Limited – Social Initiatives

We are interacting with three women groups through the Self Help process. Basically saving money and putting that to sensible use have found recognition that the women need. They are seen as individuals who help the family in difficult times. They learn to make decisions, voice their concern and come together to solve their own problems.

It is encouraging to see how the Ekta Mahila Group approached the Trust to help solve their Drinking water problem. They made a proper representation, put facts in proper perspective, were ready to help themselves and also worked out the distribution of water and paid their contribution as a token towards solving the water problem. They are now prepared to work on sorting out the water problem on a long term basis and are willing to look at Water shed programs.

They came forward and asked us to start tailoring classes. They searched a well known teacher and gave us two machines until we could purchase four more machines. They pay a nominal fee and show great enthusiasm to learn. We have seen great progress in their skills and are very encouraged by it.

Ruchi Soya Industries Limited – Social Initiatives – Health

Whilst we would very much like to go into Health awareness programs in a systematic manner, we have started programs which can give immediate relief. We have partnered with The K.K. EYE Hospital which is run by the Sadhu Waswani Mission and has a super specialty hospital for eye care. We conduct Cataract Detection camps; those detected are then taken to the K.K. Eye Hospital for their surgeries. So far 68 financially challenged patients from these villages have got back their sight. These include the adivasis also.

The national program of Pulse Polio is another activity that we have decided to support and is in line with the nation’s goal to eradicate pulse polio. The Primary Health Centre staff is given the vehicle to move around in the villages that their centre is supposed to cover. Even the Cataract camp is held in this centre which gives them an edge also as the patients that come to them are then referred to the camp.

Most diseases are water borne and are a perennial problem to the people of the village of Esambe as there is a scarcity of clean and safe drinking water in this village. We consider it our duty to help provide clean drinking water to attack this phenomenon and as the women of the village of Esambe are ready to take this on a priority, we will address this issue along with them.