NEW DELHI – Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd (TPDDL) has introduced a new initiative – ‘Pathshala’ – to help school children in North Delhi. The programme focuses on providing free education to the street children. It will also undertake digitization of government schools.
TPDDL is a joint venture between Tata Power Ltd and the Delhi government with the former being a majority stake holder.
Most of the kids come from the weaker section of the society and TPDDL will develop the infrastructure for these schools, Sanjay Banga, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), TPDDL told India CSR.
TPDDL is trying to make the kids competent enough to get admission on their own, at least till the 5th grade, and the Delhi government is helping at various levels in this initiative, Banga said.
The company aims to give basic education to all the kids in Delhi in next five years, Banga said.
The company has also started ‘clean water initiative’ in which 65 RO plants have been installed in government schools.
TPDDL has been undertaking various initiatives as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) responsibility. Company’s ‘Sathi’ programme encourages partnership among the communities. “TPDDL believes that the company will automatically benefit if the society benefits, Banga said.
The joint-venture company works on health care, education, and employment issues.
The company is providing free health services including doctor visits and medicines through mobile dispensaries to those people from the weaker sections, who are paying their electricity bills in time, Banga said.
Moreover, the staff in mobile dispensaries has been engaged in LED bulb distribution and gets INR 2 rupees for every bulb sold.
TPDDL is also running around 315 women literacy centers to empower women with education and life skills. The centers also provide books and scholarships to these women. More than 25,000 women benefit from these learning centers, annually.
The company is giving free vocational training in computer courses, stitching and beautician courses as part of its initiatives in the employment sector.
TPDDL’s women literacy centers and ‘Abha’ programme are rated among its top rated programmes, as per two different surveys done by Delhi School of Social Works and TATA Institute of Social Science, Banga said.
Under the ‘Abha’ initiative, women in the JJ (Jhuggi-Jhopdi) clusters were encouraged to join TPDDL as ambassador. This has done wonders for the company leading to 99% collection of due bills. In return, the women get commission on every bill with a fixed amount of INR 1500. The company has around 900 Abha women.
“This is a very effective programme to empower women,” Banga said.
The company’s various initiatives have been implemented across Delhi including areas in Jahangir Puri, Mangol Puri, Bawana, Nalera, Pitampura and Rohini where a sizeable population from the weaker sections resides.
