The Formation of Sakhi Mandal Sparks New Entrepreneurial Ventures Among Women
Ten Women from Hajira Village Given the Opportunity to Step Beyond Their Doorsteps: President of Sakhi Mandal, Amrutaben Patel
Surat: A strong society can only be built by strong women. The history of women empowerment in Gujarat has been remarkably inspiring. There is hardly any field left where women have not proven their capabilities. Through the Mission Mangalam scheme, women in rural areas have been organized, provided skill-enhancing training for self-employment, and encouraged to save for personal financial independence. The ten women from Hajira village in Choryasi Taluka of Surat have provided a living example of this empowerment.
With the support of ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) department, ten women from Hajira village have crossed the threshold of their homes, taking commendable steps to strengthen their families economically.
Amrutaben Patel, the president of Pihu Sakhi Mandal, stated, “Before we formed the Sakhi Mandal, we were doing small jobs and household chores. None of our members had pursued higher education. With the support of ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India’s CSR department, these ten women established the Pihu Sakhi Mandal and started a Xerox and canteen business from home. We never imagined we would get the opportunity to run our own business with the help of the company.”
She further explained, “Hajira is a large industrial area. Workers often had to travel far to get Xerox, printing, or stationery work done, wasting both time and money. Through the visionary CSR initiative of ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India, the company provided color Xerox machines to the village women and allocated proper space in the company compound for their business. Additionally, our Sakhi Mandal receives orders for tea and snacks during company functions, generating an income of two to two and a half lakh rupees a year, which allows each woman to save and run her business comfortably from her home.”
Expressing her joy, Amrutaben Patel said, “I never thought we would run our own businesses in a coastal area, but the formation of the Sakhi Mandal has sparked a new entrepreneurial spirit among the women.”
