Many days are earmarked for celebrating, honouring or commemorating people, events and movements. Until a few years ago, I would find it difficult to mark all these days on my calendar, but now, thanks to technology, I can do it in one shot by using Google Calendar or a similar app.
Among all such days,8thMarch, which is celebrated as Women’s Day, stands out for me. This is because the women in my life – my mother, my wife, my daughter and my daughter-in-law – have contributed immensely to my life. I have always been close to my mother. I have received great support from my wife through thick and thin, both, in life and in business. I find hope for the future in my daughter who comes up with great advice whenever I am at a crossroads. My daughter-in-law always has a way of looking at things from a different perspective.
As I read articles in the newspapers on Women’s Day last year,I thought I should do something as an act of gratitude to womanhood. One morning as I was walking down our factory shop floor, I saw only men working on CNC-programmed drilling machines and welding machines. I wondered why we should not have women working on these machines. Drilling operations require accuracy and finesse; traits that come naturally to women.
I spoke to my managers to understand the legalities involved in training and employing women on the shop floor. What started as an idea, has culminated in a vocational training module to train local tribal women to work on state-of-the-art CNC machines and welding machines and make them employment-ready. We got the module ratified by the Maharashtra State Skill Development Society and the course is slated to begin on1 April 2018 at TEMA Achhad Works, Talasari.
In these times when the agrarian economy is in crisis and most of the women in this sector are out of employment, I believe this module serves as the best alternative to women with the need for employment at convenient distance from their homes.
This initiative also serves the cause of women’s empowerment. As a nation we aspire to be the manufacturing hub of the world. Any skills we add for employment in the manufacturing industry will go a long way towards meeting this objective. Equally importantly, this addresses the declining participation of women in the industry.
So, I would encourage all of us to not only celebrate Women’s Day but also show respect and regard for women through concrete actions.
HAPPY WOMEN’S DAY!
(In case you know someone who would benefit from the vocational training course,which begins on 1 April 2018 at TEMA Achhad Works, Talasari, please inbox me or write to coursecoordinator@empowerachhad.org)
