Context:
NTPC launches a new edition of the Girl Empowerment Mission (GEM).
More on the news
- National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Limited, launched the latest edition of Girl Empowerment Mission (GEM), its flagship Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative.
- Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a self-regulating business model that helps a company be socially accountable to itself, its stakeholders, and the public.
- The program aligns with the Government of India’s Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (BBBP) initiative.
- BBBP was launched in 2015 to address the declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR) and related issues of women’s empowerment over a life-cycle continuum.
- It aims to tackle gender inequality by nurturing girls’ imaginations and fostering their ability to explore opportunities.
- GEM foster their ability through a 1-month workshop for young girls during the summer holidays.
- The new edition of GEM will add nearly 3,000 meritorious children belonging to underprivileged sections of society at 42 identified locations of the power sector PSU.
National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Limited
- NTPC is one of India’s largest energy conglomerate power utilities. Established in 1975.
- NTPC, is an Indian central Public Sector Undertaking.
- NTPC became a Maharatna company in May 2010.
Girl Empowerment Mission
- GEM was initiated as a pilot project in 2018 with just three locations and 392 participants.
- In 2023 alone, 2,707 girls participated in the workshop across 40 locations of NTPC, spanning 16 states of India.
- With this new edition the total number of children benefiting from the Mission will cross 10,000.
Significance of the Mission
- The Mission focuses on the empowerment of girls through various interventions and aims to identify and nurture their leadership qualities so that they can be future-ready.
- The workshop focuses on health, hygiene, safety, fitness, sports and yoga.
- Mission acclaimed (praised) for its holistic approach to skill development, confidence-building, and mentorships.