Gap has joined hands with the ministry of women and child development, government of India, and various state governments for the welfare of children and women in the country. The company, in association NGOs, has also taken various initiatives to solve the water crisis caused due to manufacturing of denims in India.
Speaking to Indiaretailing, Lakshmi Menon Bhatia, director, global partnerships, social responsibility, Gap Inc., said, “We will form alliances with the central and some state governments including Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, for prevention, rehabilitation and eradication of child labour and exploitation of women labour at various outsourcing factories of the company.”
The company has also initiated a special rehabilitation centre for women and children in association with Delhi-based NGO Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) in the national capital. “We have planned to invest around $200,000 (over Rs 85 lakh) to build destitute homes in and around Delhi,” informed Bhatia.
Besides, the company, with assistance from various NGOs, has planned to set up water rehabilitation plants at places where its factories are located. “Denim is a thirsty fabric and its manufacturing process consumes a lot of water. Hence, we have planned to set up water rehab plants in and around our manufacturing units,” said Bhatia.
– Satrajit Sen
