CLP India collaborates with SEWA to empower rural women in Gujarat

• • Agreement with Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) to provide livelihood skills for women across Jamnagar and Surendranagar districts
• • Skill development training to be provided in solar energy-based solutions for agriculture and livelihood.

Rajkot, June 2019: CLP India, one of the largest foreign investors in the Indian Power sector, has entered into a partnership with the Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA), to empower economically disadvantaged women in Gujarat through skill development and capacity building initiatives. The program will be initially rolled out in 18 villages around CLP India’s wind power projects in Samana and Mahidad in Jamnagar and Surendranagar districts, respectively.

Under this partnership, SEWA will provide skill and capacity building training for women for livelihood purposes aligned to local interests. Through their Trade Facilitation Centres in the region, SEWA will hone the women’s skills in local art and craft, food processing and garment making. Besides improving their living standards, the program will also focus on the nutrition and health aspects of women and facilities will be provided for their well-being.

In a region known for its salt production, the partnership will also combine CLP India’s expertise in solar energy powered solutions, with SEWA’s long experience in development sector.

To further maximise the impact of this intervention, SEWA will help develop master trainers from villages around CLP India’s plants, who will in turn start trainings in villages at grassroots level. SEWA will also organize exposure visits for beneficiary groups to SEWA’s existing excellence models for further insight.

Commenting on the development, Dr. Priyesh Modi - Head, Corporate Social Responsibility, CLP India said, “A holistic approach towards community development around our area of operations is one of our key mandates. We have a long history of working in Gujarat and we understand the needs of the local people. Our earlier programs focussed on improving education and health in communities. Through our collaboration with SEWA we are focussing on livelihood opportunities to help enhance the economic status of the women in the region”.

In addition to Gujarat, the partnership will also extend to Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, covering 4000 women across 73 villages in these states, consequently benefitting 15000 community members.

CLP India has a long-standing history of operating in Gujarat and working with local communities. In Samana and Mahidad, CLP India works closely with village development committees for overall development of the villages with focus on improving water availability. Various need-based projects have been undertaken for improvement of water infrastructure in 11 villages benefitting about 10,000 people. 17 farmers clubs have been active for taking up sustainable farm practices, total 879 farmers benefitted. Eco club activities in 18 schools connect about 1200 students and teachers. Efforts are also being made to improve quality of primary education. 65 youth have received financial assistance for education under the CLP India Scholarship scheme.

Around its gas-fired Paguthan plan near Bharuch, a unique Extension Volunteer (EV) model has worked wonders in improving the overall status of primary education in the region. Evening classes program run by a team of EVs has also won appreciation of the state-run Gujarat CSR Authority.

Additional information about the Samana and Mahidad power projects:
The Samana wind farm is a 100.8 MW wind power project located in Jamnagar district in Gujarat. The project comprises of two phases of 50.4 MW each. Phase-I of the project was fully commissioned in February 2009 and Phase-II in January 2011. The power generated by Phase-I is being sold to Torrent Power Limited (TPL) under the terms of a 10-year power purchase agreement. The power generated by Phase-II is being sold to Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL) under a long-term power purchase agreement.
The Mahidad wind farm is a 50.4 MW project in Gujarat and was commissioned in the year 2014. The power generated is being sold to GUVNL.

About CLP India
CLP India is the wholly owned subsidiary of CLP Holdings Ltd, which is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and is one of the leading investor-owned power businesses in Asia. Entering the Indian power sector in 2002, it has become one of the largest foreign investors in the Indian power sector with a total committed investment of over INR 14,500 Crores. The diversified and environmentally friendly generation portfolio, amounting to over 3,000 MW, covers renewable energy, supercritical coal and gas fired power plants.

CLP India is one of the largest renewable energy producers in India with operational and committed capacity of around 1100 MW across wind and solar All the wind projects are wholly owned by CLP. The Veltoor solar project is the first joint venture project for CLP India. After this new investment, CLP India has extended its presence in India across eight states. CLP India was the first power company in South Asia and Southeast Asia to issue corporate green bonds, as well as the first Power Company in India to issue an asset-specific bond.

CLP entered the Indian Power Sector in the year 2002 with the acquisition of a 655 MW gas fired power plant which is located in Bharuch, Gujarat. This power plant was one of the first independent power projects in India and complies with the highest level of internationally accepted standards in safety and in environment conservation. In addition to this, CLP India owns and operates a 1,320 MW (2 X 660MW) supercritical coal-fired power plant in Jhajjar, Haryana, which is one of India's first supercritical coal-fired power plants.