Empowering the women folk has been a thrust area for Corporate Sustainability Services (CSS) division of Tata Steel. Thus when the Jail Superintendent of Ghagidih Jail, Jamshedpur, Mr T R Gupta expressed his desire to partner CSS to impart vocational training to its women inmates, the Company was more than willing to help. Accordingly, on Wednesday, 12th August, 2009, Ghagidih Jail Authorities and CSS, Tata Steel jointly inaugurated two vocational training modules at the jail premises.

The women inmates will now undergo training on jewellery making and beautician courses. Lasting for one and three months, respectively, the classes will be held at the jail vicinity from Monday to Thursday each week for a three hour period. CSS has prepared a ‘Training Reference Manual’ for both the two modules and has identified the required faculty for the job, thereby giving this course a structured and neat look. Tata Steel, on principal, has agreed to bear the entire expenses for the training.

At the outset, it is expected that once these ladies are properly trained in the art of jewellery making or beautician courses, they may maintain a decent lifestyle after they finish serving their terms. While Tata Steel Rural Development Society of Tata Steel has successfully implemented these courses at its various project villages, for the women inmates of Ghagidih Jail, this is a pioneering initiative. These courses and many others have paid off rich dividends for the women, supplementing their family incomes and making them an empowered lot. It is with this success and will in mind that Tata Steel has embarked on this journey at Ghagidih Jail.

About Tata Steel & Corporate Sustainability Services
Established in 1907 by its Founder J N Tata, Tata Steel is the flagship of Tata Group, one of the top ten steel producers globally and most respected business house in India. The company has also set benchmarks in the fields of corporate social responsibility and corporate governance. Through its rural social development arm, Tata Steel Rural Development Society, the company reaches out to more than 800 villages in areas of health and hygiene, income generation, sustainable livelihood, sports and other vocational activities. It firmly believes in improving the quality of life of its employees and the communities it serves.