UDYOGINIEmpowering Steady Framework forFinancial IndependenceArvind K. MalikCEOUdyoginiUdyogini providescutting-edge solutions –skill-based jobs,market-based livelihoods,and local enterprisessuitable to women’scontexts, aspirations,and capabilities.44 | August 2022 | www.insightssuccess.in
Leading NGOs Impacting Corporate Social Responsibility Drive - 2022Women’s Empowerment has been the primaryfocus for both government and most Non-profitorganizations. Voluntary action promoted bythe prominent NPOs and NGOs engaged in developmentplay a significant role in rural development, which isdependent upon the active participation of the stakeholdersto get the distinct programs implemented for the bettermentof Women’s lives.Moreover, women empowerment can be achieved byadopting a gender-sensitive developmental approach, accessto education, functional literacy, political and ecosystemsupport, an effective pro-women legislation and focusedemployment generation programs for women.NPOs, NGOs and self-help groups (SHGs) play a very vitalrole towards women empowerment by providing basiceducation, vocational and entrepreneurship training for selfemployment,legal aid, protection for women, gender andself-awareness programs.Udyogini stands out as a leading NPO and a pioneer indeveloping an entrepreneurship framework by integrating agender lens and classifying barriers women face at eachstage of becoming an entrepreneur.Udyogini works with the most vulnerable, marginalizedwomen to empower them economically. Under the coherentleadership of Arvind K. Malik, CEO, Udyogini caters tothe needs of poor women, building their capacity andstrengthens local resources and ecology for creatingsustainable livelihoods.Empowerment is a journey, and economic independence isone milestone. It is a powerful tool for acquiring confidenceand self-belief. Udyogini offers pathways for financialindependence through entrepreneurship, skill-based jobs,and self-employment.The organization recognizes the barriers women face asthey decide to move up the ladder socially, economicallyand politically; hence, it strives to strengthen the overallspace of women in the family and in social spheres forwomen to have an enabling environment to realize their fullpotential.A Coherent LeadershipArvind has a degree in Forestry Science from PantnagarAgriculture University and advanced training in humanrights. He has over 30 years of experience working withsome leading national and international NGOs in thedevelopment sector.He spent two and half years as Regional RuralDevelopment Manager, Aga Khan Foundation, Afghanistan,between 2011 to 2013. Arvind was recognized as FordFellow in 2015, a global fellowship organized by FordMotor Company and 92 Street Y, USA.An Odyssey of ProficiencyUdyogini has a remarkable history of inception. It wasconceptualised in 1992 by a group of eminent people toimplement an innovative project of the World Bank called“Women Enterprise Management Training and OutreachProgram” to create a movement for women’s economicempowerment in India. In that era, the organization wasrecognized as a service provider and a resource agency toNGOs and Government Bodies, under the leadership of(Chair and founding member) Ms Ela Bhatt, the Founder ofSelf-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA).From 2000 onwards, Udyogini has evolved as an expert inEntrepreneurship, particularly building livelihoods bypromoting micro enterprises in selected products valuechains and creating rural jobs along the entire value chain inrural areas, ensuring that women and youth have a decentincome and voice to change their own circumstances.Some of the earliest projects include promoting handicraftcluster in Pugal Bikaner, Rajasthan, incense sticksproduction and chunari making in Saharanpur, UP andforest and farm-based products in Mandla, MP.Currently, Udyogini is operating in five states – includingChhattisgarh. Madhya Pradesh. Uttarakhand, Jharkhand,and Rajasthan – engaging with over 50,000 women andyouth in 22 different products such as honey, lac, chilli,tamarind, herbal tea, ghee, and many more.Empowering FurtheranceUdyogini provides cutting-edge solutions – skill-based jobs,market-based livelihoods, and local enterprises suitable towomen’s contexts, aspirations, and capabilities. The teamchallenge the notion that entrepreneurship is a maledominatedspace and connects aspiring women (and youth)with the markets, removes barriers, builds skills, capacityand enables assurance of resources.45 | August 2022 | www.insightssuccess.in
Change language