Serving The Underprivileged

The World Bank has identified empowerment as one of the key constituent elements of poverty reduction and a primary development assistance goal.

NITI Aayog, in its ‘Action Agenda Draft’ released on April 2017, stressed on the importance of promoting equal participation of women in the Indian economy. The Aayog’s 2017-20 agenda also stated that women tend to be paid less, work in less productive jobs, and are over-represented in unpaid care work. Various CSR activities by companies have provided a platform as well as vocational courses and employment opportunities to the underprivileged.

The Shahnaz Husain Group of Companies has initiated an extensive CSR programme to assist the underprivileged.

Vivek Mungat, a visually impaired person from Delhi, told BE, “I did not know what to do with my life and did not want to be dependent on others. I took the vocational training course at Shasight, started by Shahnaz Husain. I got the opportunity and confidence to earn my own living. Now I am employed at a Shahnaz Salon and am happily independent.”

Shruti Sarkar, 23 years, who hails from Cooch Behar, West Bengal, told BE, “After I completed their ethnic beauty care course, I started doing door-to-door beauty treatments. I was so happy when I handed over my first month’s income to my mother. Today I earn around `9000/- per month.”

BE’s Ankita Chakraborty spoke to Shahnaz Husain, Chairperson and Managing Director, Shahnaz Husain Group of Companies on the CSR activities initiated by her company.

Q. You are a beauty icon. What motivated you to start a skill development programme for the underprivileged? How are they trained?