Another important initiative undertaken by Arvind is a programme to empower tribal women. This can be described as “CSR in Spirit”, though technically it doesn’t come under the ambit of CSR.
Arvind has initiated a unique residential programme to work and skill young women from the rural areas. These young women, all of them educated up to class XII, are chosen on the basis of their academic qualifications, dexterity test, aptitude test and health check-ups.
Once selected, the company takes care of all their basic needs – housing, food, health and transport – as well helping them in pursuit of higher education.
As a result of this unique design at the end of the four-year programme, a young woman could save up to Rs. 5 lakh, as well as pursue higher education and gain a degree/diploma –enough to give her a head start in life.
So far, about 400 young women have been enrolled in this programme.