Srinivasan Services Trust (SST), the social arm of TVS Motor Company and Sundaram-Clayton Limited celebrates having over 40% female representation in its field force. The Trust has been working for women empowerment in the rural belts of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh for the past 27 years, through formation of Women Self-help groups, and helping them sustain through interventions in diverse sectors such as training, credit linkage, livelihood programmes and nudging them towards development of their community.
This milestone underscores SST’s dedication to creating an inclusive environment where women can thrive professionally.
SST has collectivised over 60,000 women into over 5,000 self-help groups over the course of their journey. Additionally, SST has actively supported financial inclusion by facilitating Rs 85 crores through bank loans for 15,500 women, in this financial year empowering them to pursue entrepreneurial endeavours.
One of the major livelihood interventions promoted by SST has been supporting over 10,000 livestock women farmers achieve a sustainable income ranging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 6,000 per milch animal. This is achieved through a comprehensive dairy value chain programme through which we provide timely technical support, credit linkages through SHG and help women to set up milk-collection centres. A success story from recent years is a partnership with Shreeja Milk Producer Company, where women, collectivised and trained by SST, were supported to establish 30 women-led milk collection societies, empowering over 400 women through social entrepreneurship. Additionally, SST’s support for diverse income-generating activities, such as handicrafts product making units, promotes economic independence among women across various communities.
In the cluster of villages near Pune, SST has facilitated livelihood opportunities for over 200 women, enabling them to transition from daily wage labour to finding sustainable income between Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000 within their villages.
SST’s impact is visible through the actions of more than 1,000 women who are part of 100 SST facilitated SHGs, who, out of their own interest, get involved in community development initiatives. These initiatives, ranging from supporting flood-affected communities to contributing to the renovation of anganwadis and providing the anganwadis and schools with essential materials. This proves SSTs model for promoting community development through development of rural women through its multifaceted initiatives, will help to build more inclusive, equitable and robust villages.