Page 50 - 10x GOOD Magazine
P. 50

Rural





          Revolution










          HDFC Bank

          Parivartan, the                                                                                                                                           lives in over a million households   how to make handicraft from water

          bank’s flagship CSR                                                                                                                                       across the country.               hyacinth, a weed that is abundant in
          programme, has                                                                                                                                            Amidst the wide range of          more than half of the 400 villages in
                                                                                                                                                                                                      Thoothukudi district.
          transformed more                                                                                                                                          interventions the Bank is

          than 9.8 crore lives                                                                                                                                      undertaking, it is notable to see   They were trained in correct ways
                                                                                                                                                                                                      of harvesting, grading, drying, and
                                                                                                                                                                    the sustainable change in the lives
          in over a million                                                                                                                                         of people through the livelihood   storing the water hyacinth stems.
          households across                                                                                                                                         interventions. Following are three   They were also introduced to four
                                                                                                                                                                                                      types of weaving for making baskets
                                                                                                                                                                    such initiatives undertaken by the
          the country                                                                                                                                               Bank that are innovative, sustainable   and flat products. Sewing machine
                                                                                                                                                                    and scalable.                     were given to add value to the
                                                                                                                                                                    1. Water Hyacinth Handicraft      products. The training included
                                                       harulata, aged 35,      humanity, is the key to the long-                                                      project                         stitching removable lining in fabric
                                                       works as a farm         term success of the 2030 SDG                                                         2. Local Economic Activation Project   for laundry baskets and handbags.
                                                       labourer in Thoothukudi   goals. However, attaining SDG goals                                                  (LEAP)                          Wooden handles and woven multi-
                                                       district in Tamil Nadu.   without a robust rural development                                                 3. Three-Tier Vertical Livelihood   coloured straps were specially
                                            CHer husband works in              program focused on bringing rural                                                      Structure Model                 designed to match the products.
                                            the city as a security guard, and she   women to the centre stage will be                                               From Weeds to Wealth:             The training advanced to dyeing
                                            raises their two children at home.   challenging.                                                                       Water Hyacinth Handicraft         the stem, welding and braising the
                                            It is incredibly hard to make ends                                                                                      Project                           metal armature, designing pleated
                                            meet because of limited economic   This is where HDFC Bank                                                                                                techniques, and tufted products.
                                            opportunities available in her village.   Parivartan, the bank’s flagship CSR                                           In January 2022, the Water Hyacinth   The women were also trained in
                                            Her situation is common for 48%    programme, works towards the                                                         Handicraft project was Launched   segregation, drying, and storage of
                                            women living in 664,369 Indian     socio-economic development of the                 Education, Skill Development &     for 60 women beneficiaries. They   the stem in white gunny bags for
                                            villages. Almost 75% of such rural   society by sustainably empowering               Livelihood Enhancement, Healthcare   were given specialized craft tool   several days.
                                            women are agricultural workers.    communities. It focuses on six areas:             & Hygiene, and Financial Literacy. It   kits to use during their training and
                                            India, home to one-sixth of all    Environment, Rural Development,                   has transformed more than 9.8 crore   beyond. The project taught them   These products were also exhibited


          50                                                                                                                                                                                                                       51
   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55