PART A
A conglomerate started in 1857 with a mission to deliver superior value to its customers, Aditya Birla Group (ABG) today has a gamut of products that caters to all the stages of ‘Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs’. As rightly said, it is unlikely to miss its presence. Similarly, ABG products have also had an impact on my life elaborated for each stage below.
1. Basic Needs –
Physiological: This stage covers the basic needs of shelter, clothing and food requirements, which ABG has fulfilled through launching Ultra Tech Cement, Pantaloons, etc. Little did I knew about brands when my father brought a new house back in 1999 and decided to use Ultra Tech Cement. Still, it stands strong despite the floods and earthquake tremors in Lucknow back in 2008 and 2015 respectively.
Safety Needs: Aditya Birla Health insurance provides a great sense of security and safety to my mother. We came to know about this policy through an uncle who was given special training to spread awareness of such policies. This was a great idea to make people in need independent along with giving them security.
2. Psychological Needs –
Belongingness: We use its services day in and day out but forget to appreciate the presence of Vodafone Idea which connects people globally with a wide range of connectivity and the largest number of cell sites.
Esteem Needs –
The excitement was many folds when I got the interview call from IIM however, being a healthy person, it was difficult for me to get formal clothing of my size. That’s when somebody mentioned that ‘Allen Solly’ has all the sizes and finally my search came to an end. This gave me immense confidence during the interview and here I am in IIM Ranchi.
3. Self -fulfilment needs –
Self - Actualization: CSR activities of the group empowering rural people especially women, have inspired me a lot. I also became a part of an NGO named ‘Robinhood Army’ which helps people meet their basic needs and grow.
At all stages of life one or the other ABG product keep touching our lives and hell us grow.
PART B
Failure is not fatal, it is inevitable.
I was shocked to have experienced the wrath of patriarchal society when my mother and I went to a bank get an FD liquidated into a bank. Seriously, you would think, just an FD liquidation. Yes! Me and my single mother have faced many such challenges from a trivial process of getting an FD liquidated to fighting legal cases for more than 5 years and winning it eventually. These instances which happened to me and my mother made me realize that there would be so many other women who doesn’t even have the basic education which me and my mother have. How tough it would be for them to fight for their rights and this contemplation lead me to finding my focus. I decided to help all the women and children in need and as they say charity begins at home, it started at home for me too. I started giving free dance sessions to empower these ladies with a skill which will help them earn in future. Further, I thought of doing it on a bigger platform and I wrote CAT to first get established and carry out my goal on a larger scale. My mother’s constant support along with my focus to make women independent gave me strength to fight my challenges back and outperform what society expects from a typical female and spread the word to other females too. Similar to BIRLA family’s values of Integrity, passion, seamlessness, speed and commitment, I am driven for this cause and would always work to keep empowering women.