Employment generation

• Tata International has set up co-operatives and self-help groups (SHG’s) at Indore, Dewas and Mhow to generate leather industry-related employment for women, by providing formal training to women in the manufacture of leather articles, footwear and it’s components.
• The company in collaboration with the Madhya Pradesh Handicraft Development Board and the World Bank; runs formal training courses for the Leather & Jute Training Centre at Indore, and gives meritorious students employment at it’s leather factory.
• At the new ladies footwear manufacturing plant in Dewas, the complete end-to-end operations are managed by 2000 women, who are trained to manufacture footwear by FDDI trainers. This is a further extension of Tata International’s commitment to provide opportunities to women and underprivileged sections of society.

Community Developmental Activities in Dewas and other parts of India:
Major initiatives of the company revolve around the Leather Business Unit. Under the aegis of our leather factory in Dewas, we have :

• Constructed and adopted school buildings in Binjana and Amona villages, for complete class room infrastructure, computers, etc. We also sponsor several health, education and other vocational activities.
• Maintenance of a public children's park in the Dewas township.
• Public library in Dewas supervised by our company staff as a volunteer activity.
• Marketing consultancy and computer classes for NGOs as a volunteer activity.
• Donation of finished leather to a leprosy hospital every year for making shoes for patients.
• Technical training to the inmates of the Central Jail, Indore.
• Support to the Army Welfare Centre at Mhow with vocational training for disabled soldiers and war widows.
• Established the TATA JSK (Jansankhya Sthirata Kosh), National Prerna Award (with the National Population Stabilisation Fund): to work towards the two Millennium Development Goals of:
  “Infant Mortality Rate” and “Maternal Health”. and create responsible parenthood, wherein a maximum of 30 women from the district of Dewas – will be given this award

Goat Development Project in Bankura and Burdwan districts of West Bengal :
An eco friendly, sustainable, goat development project was launched in Bankura and Burdwan districts of West Bengal as a result of an agreement between Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, Animal Resources Development Dept, West Bengal and BAIF for the weaker sections of society. Tata International lent support to this venture through selection of suitable NGOs and was the interface between the West Bengal government and BAIF.

Tata International also provides financial assistance to several NGOs in the areas of  Education, Healthcare,  Medical Research and Social Welfare in the towns where it operates.

Affirmative Action: The Company practices Affirmative Action in employing a diverse work force and ensuring equal opportunities are given to all. In keeping with the Group’s values, the Company believes in economic and social empowerment of the disadvantaged society and plays a pro-active role in its upliftment and welfare.

It's Leather Business Unit (LBU) has in Dewas, undertaken several affirmative actions for the SC, ST and OBC communities of the state. It’s commitments cover 3 main areas:

• Entrepreneurship Development: imparting specialised training for S-O-W: stitched on wood – for buying back products and footwear components from the new trainee entrepreneurs.
• Employment Creation: adopting and upgrading ITI institutes and offering their promising students employment. Special support given to SC/ST’s for making them employable. Tata International has also initiated ‘Public Private Partnership’ in collaboration with the Govt. of Madhya Pradesh – whereby, 642 women have been trained in the footwear trade for activities like cutting, sewing and inspection.
• Education: Continuous vocational training at the school, college and adult level is given to both men and women, to make them employable in the footwear trade and beyond.

Concern for the environment is topmost on the list of Tata International's corporate sustainability responsibilities.

• 200,000 trees have been planted at the leather factory at Dewas, a reforestation plan of the Tekri hillock plan in Dewas has also been initiated.
• 5 Ponds of 10,000 cu.mtrs have been excavated in the factory for water harvesting & utilisation. Children’s parks have been created with the excavated earth.
• The leather factory in Dewas has a sophisticated effluent treatment plant in place along with a reverse osmosis plant for liquid waste. R&D projects like processes for chrome free leather, process changes study for eco labelling of leather products are also being followed.
• Tata International also has one of  India's largest solar thermal water heating systems at the leather factory in Dewas.

 

Training and Skills Development activities undertaken:

• Namibian nationals trained in hospitality sector
• Skill development of Ethiopians for the leather industry
• Industry Internships in India for South African women graduates
• Women trained in jewellery making
• Women trained in decoration of ceramic ware

Pilot projects in computer based functional literacy in support of women’s empowerment

Annual scholarships to disadvantaged and financially weaker students

Sponsorship of vehicles for underprivileged sports club, schools for the disabled

Tata International is a signatory to the UN Global Compact. It has also submitted a Corporate Sustainability Report recently, as per the Global Reporting Initiative Guidelines of the UN, which has been verified by PricewaterhouseCoopers. Tata International's commitment to the UN Global Compact "Communication on Progress" is ongoing for 2009 - 2010.

Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact
Human Rights

• Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights.
• Make sure they are not complicit abuse of human rights.

Labour Standards

• Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining.
• The elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour.
• The effective abolition of child labour.
• Eliminate discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.

Environment

• Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges.
• Undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility.
• Encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies.

Anti-Corruption

• Businesses should work against all forms of corruption, including extortion and bribery.