Skill development projects carried out under the Corporate Social Responsibility of INOX Air Products at village Bajudih and Jharnamuri under Pindrajor police station in Bokaro district have started paying dividends. Mrida Group, a social business venture that works with underserved rural communities, announced the successful response to skilling & livelihood activities conduction under CSR of INOX, informed Sunil Kumar Singh PR officer.

“Over 70 villagers most of them are women have been trained in a variety of livelihood generation programs including stitching, Incense stick making, soap making and paper bag making,” added Singh. Out of these, two women have been trained for duck farming and two have been trained in goat rearing. Mushroom Cultivation was also undertaken in both villages, he said.

Mrida has also provided Agricultural inputs to over 17 farmers with around 2.63 acres of the area under cultivation. A solar irrigation pump has been installed and the farmers were encouraged to grow vegetables such as Brinjal, Chillies, Suran, Radish, Taro, Cauliflower, Pigeon Pea, Potato, Leafy Vegetables, Onion and Wheat on the land under consideration. With the inputs, the produce will fetch better market rates, leading to better income for the farmers, he said.

In addition, a micro-finance project has been launched and 17 beneficiaries have already been disbursed a sum of around 1.10 lakhs rupees for their various requirements. “It is noteworthy is that the loan requirement is shared with the Village Development Committee, which considers each case and then disburses the loan from its own money, and earns interest too. It empowers the rural communities to play a bigger role in the development of their own villages,” added Singh.