BIG in small ways – TAPMI
As a child, I loved watching people working at building construction sites. My favourite part of the work was when the cement mixer would mix the concrete and labourers passed it over their heads while standing on fragile wooden structures. I would recognize the UltraTech cement bags and playfully say the product’s tag line “ Is cement me Jaan hai!”
This was probably one of my first memories of knowing one of the many brands of the Aditya Birla Group conglomerate. Growing up in small towns, I remember shopping at local garment shops with my parents. A gift from a cousin on Rakshabandhan was my first clothing from Pantaloons. And after that, there was no other place to shop for clothes. Be it shopping for my sister’s wedding or getting my formal trousseau for my MBA life at TAPMI, nothing was complete without a visit to the local Pantaloons or Van Heusen stores. The ease of shopping and the quality of the merchandise makes it a favorite for my family. I doubt if my father has shirts other than those from Peter England or Allen Solly!
Changing lifestyles brought a change in the meaning of life necessities. Having a cellphone soon became the norm for everyone. My first cellphone was very special to me even though it was an older hand-me-down from my dad. And it came with an Idea connection with a 98230 ————— number! I remember using it cautiously to avoid falling short of the prepaid balance and using text messages instead of phone calls which were free on the IDEA network!
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a business approach that contributes to sustainable development by delivering economic, social and environmental benefits for all stakeholders. Companies around the world are undertaking CSR initiatives across various areas to improve lives of people. Under the guidance of Mrs. Rajashree Birla, the Aditya Birla Group has implemented countless programs for children and adults and made a significant difference in their lives. I became aware of one such initiative by conversing with an electrician who once visited our house for some routine repair work. He said that he learnt the skills at the Skill Development Training Center in Nagpur run by the Aditya Birla Skills Foundation.
The Aditya Birla Group is a name known to the world for many reasons. Countless people are associated with it in different ways. As for me, it became a part of my life in all these moments!
Archana Iyer
TAPMI