CSR: Kuruchikulam steadily surging towards Gender Justice

“On the Business Front we are collectively working towards achieving Global Net Zero – a state where a balance between the amount of greenhouse gases produced and the amount of greenhouse gases removed from the atmosphere is achieved. On the Social Front we are working with all our might and doing all that we possibly can to bring women on a par with men to render Gender Justice within our realm of influence. This is our way of Taking People and Planet together.” – Puneet Katyal, CEO, Viviid Emissions Reductions Universal Private Limited.

By INDIA CSR Correspondent

Kuruchikulam Village, Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu: Kuruchikulam is one of the villages in Tirunelveli District of Tamil Nadu where the Credible Carbon Management Major- Viviid Emissions Reductions Universal Private Limited’s Social Intervention “Integrated Development through Empowerment, Education, Advocacy and Livelihood for Women and Children” is underway in collaboration with a leading grassroots Civil Society Organization – Blossom Trust. 

This Intervention among several other goals has clear specific objectives of facilitating the following for the women:

• Social and Financial Inclusion;
• Gainful livelihood opportunities;
• Sensitization about their constitutional rights and liberties;
• Ensuring that they get benefits of Government sponsored social welfare schemes.

Over the months, Kuruchikulam has come a long way on the path of social and financial inclusion for women which undoubtedly is the foremost step for eventually attaining Gender Justice. Our correspondent recently spoke with a few beneficiaries. 

55 years old N. Mydeen Pathu lost her husband in July 2022. He was diagnosed with third stage liver cancer during the last week of June soon after which he had to be wheeled in to the Government Hospital where he passed away after being treated for 10 odd days. He was a compulsive drinker. With both her daughters already married, Mydeen Pathu had no one to turn to for emotional and financial support. Speaking her heart out to our Correspondent she said, “The Intervention Staff in Kuruchikulam served just like my extended family in my hour of grief. I had been regularly attending sensitization workshops where they used to explain us about all Government sponsored social welfare and security schemes that women are entitled to. I pay Rs. 1000 per month towards rent of the house where I stay in Kuruchikulam which is way too much. 

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I roll Bidis and earn around 50 rupees every day and am also enrolled under National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme that ensures 100 days of work each year. The Intervention Staff at the Village helped me arrange all the required documents to apply for the Destitute Widow Pension Scheme at the Revenue Department of Manur Block, otherwise I would have cooled my heels off running from pillar to post for this legitimate social security entitlement. I hold an NPHH Ration Card. I will now start getting Rs. 1000 per month as widow pension. This will be a big help for me. I am ailing with an array of diseases like diabetes, hypertension and thyroid disorder. Thyroid medicines are not easily available at Government Hospitals hence I am forced to procure them over the counter from the chemist. The widow pension will be a big help. I can’t thank Fathima, Mercy Annapoorani Madam, Bala Vighnesh enough for providing the help and support in ensuring that I start getting the Widow Pension. In a few months from now when my health condition stabilises I plan to join the Tailoring Classes to learn an additional skill to enhance my livelihood. The ongoing Social Intervention at our village has something to offer to all the women and children. This is so very re-assuring.”

Sajitha was all of 17 when she was married off to a Kaja Mydeen 10 years older than her. Kaja Mydeen is a painter and does not have a fixed monthly income. Sajitha is 26 years old now and has an 8 year old son and 6 years old daughter from the wedlock. She had been desperately wanting to earn for her family. Her erstwhile bank account was rendered inoperative as a result of which she could not have borrowed money from any Bank. The Intervention Staff at Kuruchikulam under its Financial Inclusion mandate helped Sajitha open a new bank account and also got it linked to her Aadhaar Card. The fact that Sajitha could not study beyond 10^th standard does not deter her from being enterprising. She is resolute to learn oyster mushroom cultivation under the ongoing Social Intervention at her village and will thereafter seek a loan from a Public Lending Institution for putting up a shed for the same. This will aid her in earning extra money for her household which will be a giant leap towards her financial freedom. With financial freedom come equity and equality for women which in turn drive Gender Justice.

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When our Correspondent asked her about her children, a resilient Sajitha confidently replied, “The early schooling period for my son was stymied because of COVID-19. His fundamentals were certainly not up to the mark. In June 2022 I enrolled him in the After School Assistive Education Classes that are organized under the Intervention where subject teachers give personal attention to all the children. This has tremendously helped him. He had barely secured 45% in his first term. In the recently concluded third term he has bagged 62%. There is a marked improvement in his academic performance that will further improve hereon. He is also immensely benefiting from the Communicative English Classes that Saidha Madam conducts every alternate day. Earlier my son was not able to differentiate between small letters and capital letters. Now he constructs grammatically correct sentences. I am really happy with the progress that I see around me.”

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Speaking with our Correspondent over the phone, the Chief Executive Officer of Viviid Emissions Reductions Universal Private Limited, Puneet Katyal said, “The eventual aim of our Social Intervention in Kuruchikulam Village of Tamil Nadu is to catalyse Gender Justice. Let us not confuse the term Justice with something that is only granted by Honourable Courts of Law. Gender Justice is that state of equilibrium where women have an equal say in all aspects of life in the society. It is a stage where they can stand up for their rights. It is a stage where women can make important decisions not only for themselves but also for their family members. It is a stage where women drive development from the front seat and not merely witness it sitting in a boat steered by men. It is truly gratifying to note that our Social Interventions in the vicinity of Clean Energy Projects owned by our clients across several states in the country are steadfastly inching towards Gender Justice. On the Business Front we are collectively working towards achieving Global Net Zero – a state where a balance between the amount of greenhouse gases produced and the amount of greenhouse gases removed from the atmosphere is achieved. On the Social Front we are working with all our might and doing all that we possibly can to bring women on a par with men to render Gender Justice within our realm of influence. This is our way of Taking People and Planet together.”