Jharkhand News : In a step towards strengthening women entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods, ESL Steel Limited organised a stakeholder workshop for members of Jivika Srijan Shakti Producer Company Limited (OFPO) under its flagship CSR initiative, Project Jivika, at the ESL Skill School in Bokaro.
The workshop brought together 31 women members of the producer company with representatives from key government departments and institutions to enhance awareness about government schemes, institutional support, entrepreneurship development, and business growth opportunities.
Among those present were Anand Raj, BPM, JSLPS-Chas; Kishore Kumar Rajak, District Coordinator, DIC; Anand Kumar from RSETI; Narendra Kumar, Block Coordinator, DIC-Chandankiyari; and Rampad Rabidas, representative of the Zila Parishad. ESL CSR project coordinators Ved Prakash Singh (Project WADI), Shivjee Kumar (ESL Skill School), Kameshwar Goswami (Project Aarogya), along with members of the company’s CSR team, also attended the programme.
The workshop began with an overview of Project Jivika and the future roadmap of the producer company. Experts from various departments shared insights on entrepreneurship, government welfare schemes, skill development, financial and institutional support, value addition, branding, marketing, and business expansion. Participants also interacted with successful rural women entrepreneurs from Jharkhand, gaining practical knowledge on building sustainable enterprises.
Speakers emphasised the importance of producer-owned institutions, collective entrepreneurship, market-oriented production, and effective branding for ensuring the long-term sustainability of women-led businesses. They also encouraged members to make full use of government support mechanisms to strengthen their enterprises and improve market access.
The programme concluded with an address by Basanti Devi, CEO of Jivika Srijan Shakti Producer Company Limited, followed by an interactive session in which participants discussed challenges, opportunities, and future business plans.
Speaking on the occasion, Ravish Sharma, CEO and Whole-Time Director of ESL Steel Limited, said the company believes that empowering women through entrepreneurship creates lasting social and economic impact.
“By fostering strong partnerships with government institutions and enabling access to knowledge, markets, and financial opportunities, we are helping women-led enterprises become self-reliant and future-ready. Through Project Jivika, we remain committed to building sustainable livelihood ecosystems that contribute to inclusive rural development,” he said.
According to the company, the workshop was aimed at strengthening institutional linkages, improving awareness of support systems, and equipping women entrepreneurs with the knowledge and confidence to expand their businesses, reaffirming ESL Steel’s commitment to inclusive growth and community-led enterprise development.
