STERLITE COPPER LAUNCHES WOMEN’S DEVELOPMENT RESOURCE CENTRE FOR THE WOMEN OF THOOTHUKUDI

Conducted an event to spread the celebration of World Women’s Day 2019 in the region Thoothukudi, March 8, 2019: Sterlite Copper today announced the launch of Women’s Development Resource Centre at Thoothukudi for the overall benefit of women of the district. Launched as part of the World Women’s Day celebration, the Women Development Resource Centre is aimed at enabling women to be financially self-reliant through entrepreneurship. The three major areas required to establish an entrepreneur is financial support, human resource and access to technology and market. Sterlite committed to provide assistance in all these key areas by supporting them with micro financing, a skill development centre and a resource facilitation centre respectively. Mr. P Ramnath, CEO of Sterlite Copper inaugurated the Resource Centre at an event that witnessed the participation of more than 1500 women from various regions. All the participants and beneficiaries will sign a MoU with the Women’s Development Resource Centre to avail the benefits provided. The centre formed a committee, headed by Capt Sonica Muraleedharan, that shall be accessible at all times for the women of Thoothukudi to have direct interaction for any kind of support that they would require. Commenting on the initiative, Mr. P Ramnath, CEO of Sterlite Copper said, “This is an extension of the work we have been doing for the empowerment of women. With a target of creating 500 women entrepreneurs every year, we aim to develop each one of them into such strong hands that they are able enough to provide employment to at least 5 other women which counts to 3000 working women by the end of the first year. Thus we aim to create 9000 self-reliant women in Thoothukudi touching more than 30,000 lives over the next three years.” “I’m honoured to lead this initiative and women in the region. We have partnered with various other organizations including banks, NBFCs and NGOs to create a right ecosystem that will ensure progressive growth for the women of Thoothukudi. I’m confident that this centre will make a significant difference in the Thoothukudi region in terms of women empowerment” said, Capt Sonica, Chairperson, Women’s Development Resource Centre. Kalaimamani Ms. G. Muthulakshmi, recipient of prestigious state award performed the “Villupattu” on this special occasion. All the women who participated also passed a resolution to vote responsibly during the elections and elect a candidate that will be pro-development and pro-industry. Stressing that the various social infrastructure projects launched by Sterlite Copper benefited women and that the company consistently supported Women Self Help Groups, members requested the government to hear their voice and reopen Sterlite Copper.