Global power management firm Eaton believes that diversity and inclusion does not stop at financial support. Nurturing talent and then developing managerial and soft skills is just as important. The company encourages women to pursue careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) through its CSR programmes. When you think of an engineer, the image that first comes to mind is that of a man. Eaton’s initiatives have so far supported over 1,400 women engineers in Maharashtra. This figure significantly shifts the gender ratio of engineers in the State and does a great service to gender equality.
The mentoring and scholarship initiatives focus on nurturing and developing technical, managerial and behavioural skills amongst women to improve their career prospects. Says Swati Verma, Manager Inclusion and Diversity, Asia Pacific, Eaton, “Our CSR programmes and initiatives are directed towards embracing inclusion and encouraging gender balance in the field of science.” The strategic CSR approach starts with a good structural for the programmes so that they cover young girls and women of varied age-groups and backdrops.
Scholarships
Eaton supports girl students at schools in Maharashtra under their iTeach programme. Pan India educational scholarship Pratibha is directed at women engineers at both undergraduate and post-graduate levels. Pratibha recognizes exceptional female students in India’s leading engineering institutions, assessing them not only on academic excellence but also on their co-curricular achievements.
Udayan Shalini Fellowship
Another CSR programme that the company runs for young women is Udayan Shalini Fellowship. It is a personality development programme supported by mentors for deserving and talented girls from weak socio-economic backgrounds.
Another aspect of diversity and inclusion is what is being done at the workplace. The organisation hires over 45% young female professionals from campuses every year. Their ReLaunch programme has helped many female professionals revitalize their careers after a break and is recognized as an industry best practice.
