Akzo Nobel through its ‘project Indradhanush’ improving livelihood of rural women in India

Akzo Nobel India’s ‘project Indradhanush’ is a societal initiative that aims to unlock women power in 200 villages of three States of India. With a two-fold focus, Akzo Nobel Paint Academy trainers are empowering women with vocational skill training in decorative painting so that these women can gain marketable skills and become financially independent painters.

Till date, Akzo Nobel India’s ‘project Indradhanush’ has created awareness about entrepreneur opportunities among 15,000 women in three districts of Assam, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. “The initiative has directly benefitted over 600 women who are now empowered painters or paint-entrepreneurs – be it shop-in-shop Indradhanush outlet owners or Indradhanush paint dealers in these villages,” says Rajiv Rajgopal, MD, Akzo Nobel India in an exclusive interview with Bizz Buzz.

What is the ‘project Indradhanush’ and how does it benefit women?

Akzo Nobel India’s ‘project Indradhanush’ is a societal initiative that aims to unlock women power in 200 villages of three states of India. With a two-fold focus, Akzo Nobel Paint Academy trainers are empowering women with vocational skill training in decorative painting so that these women can gain marketable skills and become financially independent painters. Secondly, the project is providing entrepreneurial development training and resources to women in these villages so that they can earn additional income as Indradhanush store owners within their existing stores – be it grocery, tailor shop etc. While supporting women, project Indradhanush is also contributing to take the male-dominated paint business in rural India towards a more diverse and inclusive future.

Till date, Akzo Nobel India’s ‘Project Indradhanush’ has already created awareness about entrepreneur opportunities among 15,000 women in three districts of Assam, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. The initiative has directly benefitted over 600 women who are now empowered painters or paint-entrepreneurs – be it shop-in-shop Indradhanush outlet owners or Indradhanush paint dealers in these villages.

What inspired your company to launch a CSR campaign for women's empowerment?

Our role and responsibilities for People extend far beyond our employees and value chain to making meaningful difference in local communities. We firmly believe that empowering women is the first step to building a more equitable future. By unlocking livelihood-linked vocational skills in decorative painting, igniting interest in paint entrepreneurship opportunities among women and providing them with the resources, project Indradhanush aims to empower women to become independent, realize their entrepreneurial dreams and drive an equitable development story, beginning right from the grassroot level.

Instances of women who have received advantages from project Indradhanush by Akzo Nobel India…

Each of Akzo Nobel India’s project Indradhanush women entrepreneurs are much more than solo success-stories, as they are inspiring other women in their communities to become financially independent.

Swapna Manna: She is a homemaker from West Bengal who joined the project to gain new skills and earn additional income for her family. She completed the vocational skill training and started her own painting business. Now, she is not only contributing to her family's income but also inspiring other women in her community to take up entrepreneurship.

Uma Devi: Uma, a resident of Pookollai village of Tamil Nadu was one of the first women to complete the decorative painter training provided by Akzo Nobel Paint Academy under project Indradhanush in the State. Encouraged by the success of her initial painting jobs in the village, she has now started an independent painting business and is earning a steady income as a decorative painter.

Sathi Ghosh: Sathi is a resident of the village of Bhatjangla in West Bengal. Prior to joining project Indradhanush, her family was struggling to make ends meet. After completing the training, she started her own painting business and now earns enough money to support her family's needs. She is also helping other women in her village to take up similar opportunities.

Mamoni Dekha: At 40 years of age, Mamoni Dekha enrolled for project Indradhanush’s vocational skill training on decorative painting. Her first project – repainting the local government school helped her support her family with additional income, the subsequent assignments have helped her gain more confidence to take on bigger repainting projects.

Tulika Deka: For Tulika Deka a tailor in Hapamara village in Assam, every day was a struggle to manage her store. Now, led by the strong demand for Dulux paint, she has already applied for a loan to expand her business and feels much more secure and in control of her family’s future.

Please share the key milestones achieved from project Indradhanush?

The rural women beneficiaries of our project Indradhanush are now driving micro-entrepreneurship and socio-economic development in rural India. Since 2021, our ‘project Indradhanush’ is creating awareness about entrepreneur opportunities for 15,000 women in 200 villages in the three states of Assam, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. Already the initiative has empowered 600 women with vocational skill training in decorative paint application and provided entrepreneurial opportunities in these villages.