SAFAIGIRI ON THE GROUND
TV Today Network Ltd. CSR Initiative
TV Today Network Ltd. has donated Rs 93,25,944 to the Care Today Fund for the FY 2014-15, consistent with Section 135 of Companies Act, 2013. The Care Today Fund established Care Today A/c TV Today Network Ltd. (FY 2014-15) and deployed these funds to implement three projects aligned to the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
The Care Today Fund implemented one of these three projects in partnership with U-Respect Foundation, an NGO based in Mumbai. U-Respect Foundation received a grant of Rs 35. 86 lakh, which was utilised to construct 163 household bio-toilets in Aliyani village of Shahapur taluka, Thane district, Maharashtra. The village had severe water scarcity.
The Care Today Fund’s decision to support the initiative was based on the rationale that Aliyani was a remote tribal village; the beneficiary community was poor with limited access to livelihood opportunities and experienced severe scarcity of water. Additionally, the project had specific emphasis on women who suffered significantly due to the absence of household toilets. All beneficiaries of the project were women.
In the face of severe logistical challenges, active and extensive community participation ensured successful completion of the project. Behavioural change communication and community outreach also resulted in toilet use. Innovative solutions requiring limited use of water were adopted due to the water scarcity in the village. Women, children and the aged sections of the population have received the household toilet especially well. During interactions, the community accepted that the project had improved their health, contributed to cleanliness of the village and enhanced overall quality of life, well-being and dignity. Women said that the project had empowered them immensely while simultaneously providing them with a clean and hygienic living environment. The U-Respect Foundation also received commendation letters from the district Water and Sanitation Mission department for the successful implementation of the project in Aliyani village.