CSR News: Toyota Kirloskar Motor Concludes 34th iCARE Initiative, Empowering Rural Women Entrepreneurs Through Self-Help Groups

Bangalore, India: Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) today announced the successful completion of its 34th iCARE activity under its Employee Volunteerism Program – iCARE (i, Community Action to Reach Everyone), marking another significant milestone in its journey of social impact. Aligned with TKM’s core DNA of continuous improvement (Kaizen), respect for people, and commitment to sustainability, this initiative reflects the company’s enduring focus on empowering communities and fostering inclusive growth through innovative and eco-conscious solutions.

Focused on empowering marginalized communities—particularly rural women entrepreneurs, the activity held at NSS Bhavan in Bangalore University witnessed:

Enthusiastic participation from over 250 iCARE volunteers, including TKM employees and their families.
Together, they crafted 1,000 eco-friendly natural soaps, directly supporting Self Help Groups (SHGs) to boost inventory and support scale-up efforts.

Additionally, TKM provided environmentally friendly moulds, sustainable packaging materials, soap-making tools, and vessels to help these SHGs continue and grow their micro-enterprises. This initiative promotes eco-conscious practices and strengthens the entrepreneurial ecosystem for rural women, enabling them to achieve greater financial independence and community impact.

Through this initiative, TKM aims to support women-led SHGs such as Sreelakshmi Swasahaya Sanga and Basaveshwara Swami Mahila Swasahaya Sanga in the rural villages of Ramanagara district, Karnataka. These groups are engaged in the production of natural soaps and soap powders and aspire to expand their businesses to neighbouring villages.

Speaking about the initiative, Mr. Sudeep Dalvi, Chief Communication Officer, Senior Vice President, and Head State Affairs, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said “Through its 34th iCARE initiative, TKM continues to uphold Toyota’s core philosophy of giving back to society by empowering communities through meaningful and sustainable actions. This activity reflects TKM’s belief that true societal transformation begins with empowering the underserved, rooted in its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) values. By supporting rural women micro-entrepreneurs in SHGs, TKM aims to create inclusive economic opportunities, strengthen local ecosystems, and promote environmental sustainability. With this activity, TKM is not only promoting environmentally friendly practices but also creating livelihood opportunities for women entrepreneurs in rural areas—driving socio-economic impact that supports our vision to Grow India – Sustain India.”

TKM Employees contributed significantly to enhancing the productivity of SHGs by applying the principles and technical know-how, providing hands-on guidance in optimizing production for sustainable productivity. These strategic interventions not only enhanced day-to-day productivity but also laid a strong foundation for the SHGs to scale their businesses sustainably and expand into larger markets with confidence.

This initiative is in line with TKM’s commitment to supporting national development goals such as Viksit Bharat 2047, Skill India, and women’s empowerment through rural entrepreneurship. The brand’s CSR strategy actively complements government efforts by fostering self-reliant communities, promoting eco-conscious livelihoods, and enhancing grassroots capacity building.

Through partnerships with local government bodies and institutions, TKM continues to drive sustainable impact across its six core CSR pillars—Education, Health & Hygiene, Environment, Skill Development, Road Safety, and Disaster Management.

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