NTPC Bongaigaon starts 4-week long Girl Empowerment Mission

HT Correspondent
KOKRAJHAR, July 13: “The NTPC has provided a great platform for empowerment of girls to showcase their talents and capabilities which will nurture their creativity and sharpen their psychological, social and emotional growth for lifetime,” said Varnali Deka, deputy commissioner, Kokrajhar while inaugurating the four-week long Girl Empowerment Mission (GEM) at its premises at Salakati, Kokrajhar.
Deka added that NTPC as an energy company has set an example by doing such noble initiatives which speaks volumes about the commitment of the company towards community development.
Earlier, Subrata Mandal, executive director, NTPC Bongaigaon while conducting the program for the first time said that the 40 shortlisted girls between the age group of 10 to 12 years have come a long way right from the baseline survey, medical examination, registration process and finally to this campus.
Mandal added that NTPC started GEM in 2018, and contributed to the empowerment of underprivileged girls in the vicinity of its project locations. Till date, NTPC has empowered more than 4500 girls across the nation, he highlighted. He thanked the BTR Government, district administration and the department of Education for supporting NTPC Bongaigaon since the conceptualisation of the program.
Jayasree Mandal, president Bardwi Shikla Ladies Club said, “Women have always played an important role towards laying the foundation stone of a value-based society and NTPC GEM program is that foundation stone which will enable the society to respect and make women independent and self-reliant.”
NTPC GEM programme will empower girls from across the country and make them aware of basic education, health and self-defence. With this initiative, NTPC aims to help these girls break the glass ceiling and dispel the misconception about female foeticide in rural areas.
The girls were shortlisted in association with the department of Education, Kokrajhar and with the assistance of district administration, Health department and BTC administration. In the coming four weeks, the girls will be provided training on different subjects, life skills and will be engaged in extracurricular activities such as outdoor games, puppetry, yoga, etc. The CSR initiative will ensure that the girl child grows into a well-rounded adult, with ample curiosity and quality communication and social skills.
Since its inception, the company has laid focus on creating pioneering Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices that have had a permanent sustainable impact on the lives of the people. NTPC will continue to spearhead such initiatives and touch the lives of the marginalised people and ensure that they live their lives with dignity.
The program was attended by Umesh Singh, GM (O&M), Arunashis Das, GM (Projects), Sanjay Pandey, GM (FGD), G.M.Thangzom, deputy commandant, CISF, parents of the children, school principals, chairperson of VCDCs, senior officials of CISF and NTPC, employees, union and associations and NTPC wards.
An in-house cultural program by NTPC wards on the theme of girl empowerment was also performed on the occasion.