Elegant Business Park, MIDC Cross Road 'B', Off Andheri-Kurla Road, Andheri (E), Mumbai - 400059
The two main occupations of the people are agriculture and service in cement factories. With high investment and low returns, farmers working in agriculture, horticulture, goatary poultry and other traditional work started moving to other livelihood opportunities. Looking at the problem, Ambuja Cement Foundation introduced innovative aproaches to agriculture and package of practices to make farming a profitable business in the area.
SEDI in this area was established in 2009 with the aim of providing skill training to unemployed youth for sustainable development. SEDI gained popularity in the region, particularly for electrician training and slowly started expanded, now covering more than 10 trades.
Our healthcare program is led by 27 sakhis in Baloda Bazar - each works with families in their villages to disseminate information on health related issues and government schemes. They also coordinate with VHSCs to strengthen the government health system. ACF also organises health camps for ante-natal care, testing blood groups, detecting diabetes, anaemia and cataract surgery.
The villages around Baloda Bazar abound with big and small ponds, but maintenance of these water resources has always been sidelined. ACF follows a multi-pronged approach for water conservation, facilitating the formation of village-based committees to ensure that water resources are monitored and maintained. Work began on repairing check dams; pond-deepening work in four ponds was carried out to increase storage capacity and ensure water availability for a longer period.
ACF supports formation and strengthening of Women Self Help groups in nearby villages. The focus is on building the capacities of women in various income-generating activities. Entrepreneurial training is provided to women from various SHGs to make items like detergents, sweet boxes, and to train them in business skills like running a shop or collective marketing.
