CSR and Sustainability

Shahenazbanu and her husband Aiyubbhai have been working as Embroidery laborers for the past 4 years. Their embroidery work earned them only ‌3000 a month. Thus, Aiyubbhai also drives a lorry to run their family of five. A few months back, Shahenazbanu attended an Embroidery workshop organized by SMFG India Credit Khambhat branch. In the workshop, Shahenazbanu learnt different kinds of Embroidery designs and other ancillary items like Zari work, diamond fixing etc. She also learned how to source materials and importantly where and how to sell the finished product. Post the workshop, Shahenazbanu purchased an Embroidery book and learned more designs on her own as well. Shahenazbanu now purchases cloth from the retail market, embroiders and sells the final product to Traders. She has already started earning an additional income of ‌2,500/- to ‌3,000/- monthly. Shahenazbanu and Aiyubbhai are now confident about achieving their dream of providing better education and to their children, ensuring a better future. The entire family is thankful to SMFG India Credit.

Mrs. S. Karuna, from Thummankurichi village in Namakkal District, Tamil Nadu, enrolled in tailoring classes offered by Women's Organisation in Rural Development (WORD) and Jeevika, a CSR initiative of SMFG India Credit, to supplement her income as an agricultural worker. Through these classes, she acquired proficient tailoring skills and broadened her expertise, enabling her to execute new design patterns and operate industrial-grade machinery.

Upon completing her training, WORD connected her with Thenpandian Garments, where she landed a steady job. Now, she proudly contributes Rs. 11,000 per month to her family’s income and supports her children’s education.

Mrs. Karuna is grateful for the transformative impact of the training on her life. She thanks WORD and SMFG India Credit for empowering women like herself with valuable skill-building initiatives. 
 

Prashant, a 23-year-old from Nathdwara City’s suburbs in Rajsamand district, completed his 12th  standard and lives with his family of three. His father owns a small shop and provides for the family.

Prashant enrolled in SMFG India Credit’s CSR initiative – Yuva Kaushal  2.0 program in Udaipur, Rajasthan. This program is designed to empower young individuals through BFSO training. Despite the weight of family responsibilities, Prashant remained committed to the program. It became his inspiration, a pathway to a brighter future, and a means to break free from his limitations.

Today, he is a GCO at SMFG India Credit in Udaipur, serving as a success story and an inspiration to others.

Mrs. Nilima Behera is a homemaker, and her husband, Akhay Behera, works as an auto driver. With a monthly income of Rs. 20,000, they found it challenging to meet the needs of their family of five. To supplement their income, Nilima sought guidance from SMFG India Credit’s CSR initiative - Sakhi and received training and support through the Sakhi initiative, a CSR program by SMFG India Credit. She decided to explore alternative sources of income and invested in a pottery farm to lead a more sustainable livelihood.

To secure her financial future, Nilima opened an Atal Pension Yojana account. She and Akhay took proactive steps to overcome their financial challenges. Their story is a shining example of how strategic decision-making can empower a family to build a brighter future.

In November 2023, Amanchi Tejaswi, a 17-year-old girl from Vemagiri Village in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh visited our mobile health camp, a part of SMFG India Credit’s CSR initiative – Niramaya. She was suffering from severe weakness and loss of appetite, leading the doctor to recommend an HB test. The results revealed her haemoglobin (Hb) level was critically low at 6.3 gm/dl. The doctor prescribed IFA medication and a special diet for three months.

Tejaswi diligently followed the doctor’s advice and took the medication regularly. When our team revisited Vemagiri Village in February 2024, Tejaswi returned to our camp for a follow-up consultation. The doctor reviewed her previous prescription and recommended another Hb test, which showed her haemoglobin level had improved to 9.2 gm/dl.

Thanks to the prescribed treatment, Tejaswi’s health had significantly improved, and she was feeling better than ever.

Mr. Venkataswami, a 60-year-old farmer from Ujini village in Karnataka, India, faced significant challenges because of  his declining eyesight, which severely impacted his daily farming tasks. Limited access to healthcare information and distant hospitals made it difficult for him to seek medical help.

A CBM India community mobilizer encouraged him to visit the Inclusive Vision Center, operated by CBM India as part of SMFG India Credit’s CSR initiative - Jyoti. At the center, he was diagnosed with a cataract in his right eye and received free surgery with an intraocular lens (IOL) implant at Minto Ophthalmic Hospital. After surgery, he was also provided with corrective glasses.

Following his successful surgery, Mr. Venkataswami resumed his farming activities with renewed energy and enthusiasm. He is deeply grateful for the life-changing support provided by the Vision Center.

Saritha is a 45-year-woman from Namakkal, a district in Tamil Nadu. As the primary breadwinner for her two young children, she faced difficult economic and emotional circumstances after her divorce. The field mobilisers from WORD counselled Saritha and invited her to join the apparel-making training unit of the organised with the support of SMFG India Credit’s Jeevika initiative. Today, Saritha owns her own tailoring shop in Namakkal. Empowered with technical and financial skills, she now employs two more women in the unit due to the rise in demand for her work.

“The Jeevika program has completely transformed me from a person hiding behind closed doors to being the breadwinner for my family.”

The program enabled Saritha to enroll her children in better educational institutions and transformed her economic condition.

Kishan is a 26-year-old youth from the Raigarh district of Chhattisgarh. He did not have the necessary guidance to pursue a sustainable income source. With the intervention of SMFG India Credit’s Gurukul initiative at Bilaspur, Chattisgarh, he received counselling and completed a 35-day residential programme. Equipped with soft skills and technical knowledge of banking and financial services, Kishan started working as an Individual Relationship Officer (IRO) in SMFG India Credit, Saraipali. Today, he works as a Senior IRO and can support his parents and other family members with ease.

“The unemployed youth in the district should join a training like Gurukul to build a positive change in their lives.”

The program enabled Saritha to enroll her children in better educational institutions and transformed her economic condition.

Sumati resides in a slum community in the Kalipatti area of Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Her husband is a daily wage labourer who works in the paddy fields in the region. Due to the seasonal nature of farming, the family’s income was unstable. They were unable to meet expenses for contingencies and even to fund their young son’s university fees. Sumati was invited by our team to take part in the beekeeping training organised by our on-ground partner, MYRADA. We supported her in acquiring startup material to rear honey bees. Sumati approached a local farmer with the support of our local volunteers to place her bee box as part of his organic farming initiative. Today, Sumati earns an income from selling the honey extracted from the bee boxes. She has also managed to double her income by installing a super box.

“I’m thrilled that SMFG India Credit and MYRADA involved me in training and helped me secure a fixed source of income. Initially, I was petrified of bees, but with SMFG India Credit’s constant support and handholding, it is now easier to handle them.”

Kabali is a 61-year-old taxi driver from Perambur, Chennai. He experienced Nyctalopia (night blindness) and was unable to see during the evening and night hours. Kabali came to our VCC at Perambur in 2018. It was deduced that he was suffering from cataract in both eyes. He was then advised to undergo an emergency cataract surgery for his left eye. Our trained team at Perambur, through our “Jyoti” initiative brought him to the Sankara Eye Hospital where a cataract surgery with the intraocular lens was performed. With financial support from us, Kabali could completely focus on getting better. With his optical vision fully restored, he continues his business as a taxi driver

Tamizhvani is a 32-year-old private sector employee from Pallipalayam Taluk in Namakkal district, Tamil Nadu. The volunteers at WORD identified her during one of their menstrual hygiene sessions in the community. She was not aware of the concept of reusable sanitary pads and was using chemical-based disposable sanitary pads. Like other women in the area, she would dispose of the product in the local river. Initially, Tamizhvani was worried about the health issues that can emanate from the use of reusable pads and the stigma associated with drying them in sunlight in public. She was empowered with accurate knowledge on menstrual hygiene practices and recently requested our team to provide another set for her young daughter.

“I was anxious about drying the pad in sunlight and hiding it from everyone in the community. However, the team helped me understand that this pad does not require sunlight to disinfect. I can use it for many months, and it helps me save money.”

Shahenazbanu and her husband Aiyubbhai have been working as Embroidery laborers for the past 4 years. Their embroidery work earned them only ‌3000 a month. Thus, Aiyubbhai also drives a lorry to run their family of five. A few months back, Shahenazbanu attended an Embroidery workshop organized by SMFG India Credit Khambhat branch. In the workshop, Shahenazbanu learnt different kinds of Embroidery designs and other ancillary items like Zari work, diamond fixing etc. She also learned how to source materials and importantly where and how to sell the finished product. Post the workshop, Shahenazbanu purchased an Embroidery book and learned more designs on her own as well. Shahenazbanu now purchases cloth from the retail market, embroiders and sells the final product to Traders. She has already started earning an additional income of ‌2,500/- to ‌3,000/- monthly. Shahenazbanu and Aiyubbhai are now confident about achieving their dream of providing better education and to their children, ensuring a better future. The entire family is thankful to SMFG India Credit.