BSES empowers 3 lakh women through CSR

Power distribution company BSES on Tuesday said its corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs have empowered more than three lakh women in various fields such as education, health and energy conservation.

"In the last four years, the discoms' CSR programs have empowered over 3 lakh women, which is around 50 per cent of the total (over) six lakh beneficiaries," the Delhi's major distribution company said in a statement."Moreover, these programs have benefited women between the ages of 12 and 97 years," the company said.The five main categories of the CSR programs are education, energy conservation, health, sanitation and self-defence training.

While some programmes like adult literacy, vocational training, self defence are exclusively for women, even in other programs like energy conservation, health camps, eye care camps, sports, cancer detection and sanitation, the share of women beneficiaries is well above 40 per cent, BSES said.Being committed to sustainable growth and being sensitive to environment, BSES has created an army of over four lakh 'pro-environment' energy warriors by undertaking energy conservation programs in over 1,300 schools.

Adult Literacy and Vocational Training have benefitted over 54,000 women from the underprivileged sections of the society, the discom said.

"BSES' ALC programs have women from all age groups, with the eldest being a great grandmother of 97, who wanted to read religious books. VT programs are helping women gain financial independence," it said.

It ensured well-being of over 46,000 women, of the total 88,000 beneficiaries, through free camps in health, eye care, cancer detection and tobacco de-addiction.

"Concerned with the increasing issue of safety of girls and women, BSES is imparting self-defense training in schools. So far, over 6,400 girls have been imparted trainings through our partners - Delhi Police and Trident Solutions."Apart from this, BSES is also organizing sports tournaments (volleyball and kabaddi) to unearth talent in the rural areas in our licensed areas. Over 5,000 rural residents, including over 2,000 women, have participated in these tournaments," BSES said.

The company said it has run sanitation programmes, including renovation of toilets, in over 175 schools and benefitted over 78,000 students, of which over nearly 32,000 or over 40 per cent are girl students.