The development journey of any nation is closely interlinked with the empowerment of its women. Women, especially disadvantaged women in rural areas, remain the invisible backbone of society, despite their contribution to households and the economy. Challenges - such as inadequate education, limited opportunities for skills training, inadequate access to financial institutions and restrictive social norms - mean that low-paying labour is often their only option in life.

 

ITC's Women Empowerment Programme seeks to support women in breaking some of these barriers and in fully realising their potential as catalysts of social change. The Company's approach to women's empowerment goes beyond a single specific intervention; multiple initiatives in play seek to help women realise their entrepreneurial potential through skilling, employment opportunities and participation in community-based institutions.

ITC's Social Development Programme has touched the lives of over 6 million women across its interventions.​

 

ITC's Women Empowerment Programme

 

Women are at the core of all of ITC's Social Development Programme. The Programme's two-horizon approach aims to strengthen current livelihoods and build capabilities for the future, for the overall holistic development of marginalised and vulnerable communities - with special focus on women.

Four Pillars of​ ITC's Women Empowerment Programme​
Empowered Grassroots Institutions
Financial Capability Building
Livelihoods & Women Entrepreneurs
Social Security

Together, the four pillars provide a range of gainful entrepreneurial opportunities to underprivileged women. In addition, they are supported by financial assistance in the form of loans and grants, as well as strong market linkages to ensure long-term sustenance.

Economic Empowerment

Under this programme, ITC aims to provide women with opportunities to earn independent incomes, helping to strengthen their position as decision-makers in their families and communities.

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Impact
4,51,000 women beneficiaries till date
Over 8,247 SHGs covering 98,259+ women formed till date to link poor women with formal credit

Ultra-Poor Women

 

ITC's two-year Ultra-Poor Women Graduation Programme focuses on socio-economic inclusion through entrepreneurship for ultra-poor women-headed families living in extreme poverty, where a woman is the sole earning member.

Impact
Over 40,131 women provided meaningful livelihoods; experienced significant improvement in other development indicators.
Targets for 2030


To enhance support to 250,000
women under the Women's Economic
Empowerment Programme

 

 

Contribution to India /​ Alignment to National Schemes​
National Rural Livelihoods Mission
Self-Help Groups
Producers' Enterprises
Financial literacy to women
Alignment to SDGs
Our key initiatives

ITC invests in people and practices that are good for the planet. 

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Addressing Climate Change
Building a Climate Positive Organisation​
Supporting Livelihoods
Supporting Livelihoods
Transforming Lives and Livelihoods​
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Renewable Energy
Powering the Transition to Renewable Energy
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Green Buildings
Pioneering Green Buildings​
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Circularity
Towards Circularity​
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Sustainable Packaging
to address single use plastic substitution with scalable, innovative, and eco-friendly solutions. ​
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Climate Smart Agriculture
Empowering Farmers with Climate Smart Agriculture​
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Water Stewardship
Integrated Water Stewardship Programme​
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Biodiversity Conservation
Preserving Biodiversity for a Sustainable Future​
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Afforestation
Enhancing Green Cover, Supporting Livelihoods​
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Livestock Development
Creating Off Farm Livelihood Opportunities​
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Women Empowerment
Enabling Women to Fulfil their Potential​
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Support to Education
Helping Children Improve Quality of Education​
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Skilling & Vocational Training
Skilling India's Youth to Build a Future-Ready Workforce​
Healtcare
Healthcare
Improving Preventive Healthcare, Augmenting Curative Services​
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Sustainable Supply Chain
Building a Resilient & Sustainable Supply Chain​
brand with purpose
Brands with Purpose
Driving Change through Purpose-led Brands​
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Occupational Health & Safety
Fostering Health and Safety at Workplace​
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Talent
Creating a Workforce for Tomorrow​
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Creating a Diverse, Equitable and Inclusive Culture​
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Human Rights
ITC has a long-standing commitment to Human Rights, which is reflected in its Code of Conduct for its employees, Suppliers', and Service Providers'. ​
Corporate Social Responsibility
Corporate Social Responsibility
Generating livelihoods & environmental capital​
ITC CSR Policy
ITC CSR Policy
Corporate Social Responsibility Policy​
ITC Social Investments Impact Studies
ITC Social Investments Impact Studies
ITC's Social Investments Programme under Mission Sunehra Kal​
RPF's For Impact Assessment & Other Studies
RPF's For Impact Assessment & Other Studies
Request for Proposal of Impact Assessment of Projects undertaken by ITC’s Social Investments Programme across India