Human Rights Watch

According to Union Government of India, statistics depict that over 35% of the Indian adult population is illiterate, and most of them are women. This gender disparity, which is directly linked to the absence of a proper education system in India, translates into persistent gender biases and oppression of women. While there is universal agreement that educating women will have a great positive impact, there still exists an abysmal lack of education facilities.

A burning desire to address this grave situation, the commitment to empower women and the belief that educating a woman would directly impact her family - enhancing their lives, motivated Sterlite Foundation to start the Reengus College for girls in Rajasthan in 1995. Popularly known as “Sterlite Matrumangal Mahila Vidyalaya” this institution has helped numerous women realize their aspirations.

In a society, where the perceived need for early marriage outweighs higher education and a college degree, the Reengus College is rewriting the rules.

Reengus College offers a post-graduate diploma in Arts & Science encouraging women from backward classes to step forward and take charge of their own lives. Several courses have been structured that allow women to “learn to earn”. These include professional training course for beauticians and tailoring among others.

In addition to this, a sports center, a literary society, drama club and meditation and yoga center helps to provide a well rounded development of the women and make them more confident citizens of society.

Sterlite foundation provides vocational training in empowering women to become self-reliant and offers tailoring courses to women. While this initiative taken up by Sterlite foundation is growing, we have introduced a beautician’s course at Vitthalwadi, District. Thane, soon to be introduced at all other centers.