Am I “CITIZEN SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE”?

Today on 74th republic day, was going through the articles randomly in news papers lying on table. Interesting headline I read about the mark made by statement of constituent committee who was entrusted upon to prepare the Constitution of India. Right of Citizen is defined so well in constitution that they are still relevant. But one member spoke about the duties of the citizen too in debates. These suddenly struck me am I doing enough as a person, as a Citizen socially responsible? Or as business organisation.

The noble advise my father always gave that, he believed that society has given so much to him, it is his responsibility to give back to the society ample possible and every individual should. Even nature circulates every resource from one to another and gives us back the whole of it.

We, when were charting out 1010, had mapped every stake holder and their importance for story in making. Organisation, people, product and consumers.

Textile industry perhaps has the longest value chain from F-2-F (Farm to Fabric), use of chemical in dyeing and printing or by manufacturing of fancy fabric from man made fibre and the scale of requirement. This makes us compel to think of seriously about the pollution we may cause even unknowingly. We meticulously chose to work on natural fibre fabric in the apparel we manufacture, make affordable garment from use of natural dye and minimal use of acid/reactive  dyes which can be health hazard to consumers. We shall strive to be zero waste organisation and will use cloth bags and avoid use of plastic bags. We shall do everything with awareness that nature will return us what we give to nature.

The modern managers and management theory firmly believes and accepts that very pillar of business is their human resource, the work force which collectively makes organisation more stronger. The empowerment of people is important to achieve bigger milestones. We shall have a workforce of semiskilled and skilled artisans, tailors but their geographic location, limited resources constrains them in term of opportunity. Can we find some other way for empowering them – the chain of thoughts were not leaving us free. Distribution of money doesn’t help 360° development of individual unless that is utilised in such a way which make them more “Saksham”. We thought of creating novelty with their skill and transmission of our design thoughts . The newer thoughts and dimension of looking at garment shall also act as catalyst for enhancement of skill of artisan enabling to create novel and that is what artisan does and enjoys most. We believe it will help in more ways than one to 1010 too. 

We met many artisans in different art, tailors and found them to be restricted by social norms and resources. Some had limited freedom to work or only work from home or the sense of family responsibility gave little room to work, up-skill or earn and support family. We decided to give them work, make them entrepreneur  by freedom of working from their choice of workplace, at their convenient time w/o losing productivity and efficiency.

We started training the printers to think about design, placement of motifs, imaging the apparel’s look and colour combination and so on. In-stead of just serving labour cost basis job per hour and lively hood calculation, we requested them to add little more value to their fabulous work, take little step for novel creation to make it fatabulous. Their sincerity was motivation for us and the fact that they are preserving Indian craft heritage

Similarly, we decided to give tailoring and embroidery work to such women whose mobility is restricted due to personal reason and does petty stitching jobs from home. We approached such women in our surrounding, trained them individually and in groups at mutually convenient place putting in serious effort with a hope for good to come. After having acquired the desired level of skills, we offered them to stitch apparel’s for us with fair treatment. We hope that they will not depend on one source of income in future for stitching jobs and will find work on job work basis with more than one supplier. The challenge is big as resources are limited, many have outdated equipments. 

Creating interest in consumers is also important. Their knowing about the art will result in market in future. We decided to do a pilot project in an exhibition and let the interested visitor at stall do the stamping on a piece of cloth for themselves. It amazed a few kids on one side and on other elders were curiously gathering more information about craft & application in making adorable fashion apparels.

Government has undertook many initiative to support and is continuously trying create and evolve ecosystem but still contribution from every individual and organisation shall be of no lesser importance. By the way democracy means By the people, For the people.

Hence, question still remains are we doing enough? As 1010, are we “Citizen socially responsible” ? At-least what I 1010 can commit is not to lose our site from the noble advise by my beloved father….

Am glad to share some memories with the “professional and skilled” student with different skill set training.