How Yamini Jaipuria Works Towards Bridging Gaps In Education And Sanitation At Grassroots

Yamini Jaipuria's efforts to bring change at the grassroots level stem from the inspiration she draws around her. Having been a working professional for decades across multinational corporations and now with her philanthropic endeavours, she learned that tackling issues around education, sanitation and the environment will only bring a difference if we address challenges that local communities face in India's remote areas.

She is also an Indian member of the International Fair Play Committee which works under the auspices of the United Nations and the International Olympic Committee. As the Managing Trustee of Cosmo Foundation, she leads all strategic initiatives that aim at working towards mentorship programmes and bridging gaps across the country.

In an interview with SheThePeople, Yamini Jaipuria discusses her work at the grassroots, projects she is currently leading, why it's important to bridge gaps of access, how transformation can truly come through India's villages, and what it takes to lead.

Yamini Jaipuria Interview

What led you to become a social entrepreneur?

Knowing that we, as individuals, can make a difference is one of the most wonderful feelings in the world. I believe that everyone deserves a happy life. For the same, I wanted to use my knowledge and abilities to make a difference in the world. At the heart of this is my belief that no one should be left behind. Throughout the years, I've realised that poverty and injustice are societal issues, not just individual issues. Individuals must recognise that institutional impediments and injustices can make it difficult for some people to advance and that those who are more privileged must assist to level the playing pitch. I believe that we all have a responsibility in making our society more just and equal. There are several methods to give back and impact the world, including volunteering, providing financial assistance, etc. Working together, we can make sure that everyone, regardless of their circumstances, can live a happy and meaningful life, and this thought led me to enter the world of social entrepreneurship.

What are the key projects you’re working on lately?

Our ongoing educational initiatives include Cosmo Digi Pathshala, Cosmo Udayan Shalini Fellowship and Mentoring Program, Cosmo E-service, and E-resource centre. To facilitate this, I and my team go deep to interact with communities, identify problems at the local level, and give practical suggestions for solving them. We intervene and help in the areas of education, health and sanitation, and the environment. This change is accomplished by allocating resources in the most efficient manner possible.

We have successfully assisted families affected by COVID-19 around the country. Access to high-quality education has been a substantial obstacle for children and teens living in rural areas. Working on initiatives and programmes for underprivileged youth by providing scholarships to ensure that they receive a high-quality education is another interest area for me. Through Cosmo Foundation, we also teach basic English, functional literacy, and life skills. While education was a top concern, I was moved by the selfless service of our healthcare workers and was able to honour our country's doctors with the Sitaram Jaipuria Foundation's Medical & Healthcare Achievement Awards. Awards worth 1.20 crores were presented to the awardees as tokens of appreciation & eternal gratitude. In the first year of the awards, we received 256 entries and five doctors got a place in the coveted four categories of the Medical & Healthcare Excellence Awards. There was a Special Award for Outstanding Contribution to Covid Care. While we continue to work towards education, we have also planted more than 50,000 trees as part of the Go Green Program to restore the local environment and build a safe space for future generations.

In a world where there still exists a huge class divide where a major section of society is deprived of accessing necessities like sanitation and education, how do you think all stakeholders can contribute to bridging the divide at the grassroots level?

Bridging the divide at the grassroots level requires the collective effort of all stakeholders involved including the government, NGOs, corporates, academia, and community members. The government can play a vital role in bridging the divide by investing in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and social programs. By providing essential services to deprived communities, the government can help reduce disparities and improve the quality of life for all citizens. NGOs and civil society organizations can work with the government to provide support to marginalized communities. They can provide education, healthcare, and other essential services to help individuals and communities overcome barriers to development. The private sector can contribute by investing in local businesses and creating jobs.

By promoting economic growth and development, the private sector can help reduce poverty and increase opportunities for people from deprived communities. Academia and researchers can contribute by conducting research and sharing knowledge on the issues that affect grassroots communities.

By studying the challenges faced by marginalised communities, they can identify potential solutions and work with other stakeholders to implement them. Community members themselves can contribute by actively engaging in their local communities and advocating for their needs. By organizing and participating in community events, people can work together to create positive change and make their voices heard. When we work together, we can create a more inclusive, equitable, and prosperous society for all.

What has impacted your growth as a social leader?

One of the primary factors that motivate me is my passion for learning and exploring new horizons. I have always been a curious learner and believe that the process of evolution is never-ending. My willingness to take on new challenges and learn from them has been instrumental in my journey so far.

Another driving force for me is my commitment to delivering value to my organization and its stakeholders. I understand that the world is constantly changing, and it is essential to stay ahead of the curve to remain relevant in what we do and want to do. My focus on innovation and creativity has helped me in developing new strategies and models that have helped us achieve our goals and are a testament to our unwavering dedication to social causes.

Lastly, I constantly push myself out of my comfort zone which has helped me in developing new skills and expanding my knowledge base, which has been instrumental in my success as a social leader.

Apart from societal biases, what do you think is a major hindrance when it comes to more women being at the forefront of leadership?

Being a leader entails much more than simply being assigned to a leadership post, learning new abilities, and changing one's style to the demands of that role. It implies a significant identity change. One of the biggest challenges that I feel women in general face is that companies unintentionally impede this process by advising women to &t=264s">seek leadership roles proactively without also addressing policies and practices that indicate a mismatch between how women are perceived and the attributes and experiences people associate with leaders.

Even when there is no deliberate discrimination, subtle, "second-generation" workplace gender bias can prevent all of the women in a company from developing their leadership identities. The ensuing underrepresentation of women in senior roles strengthens long-held assumptions, encourages and supports male leadership aspirations, and upholds the status quo.

How do you suggest the Indian market can empower more women in leadership positions?

With more women in top management positions, businesses benefit from the innovation of a broader spectrum of brilliant leaders, allowing them to recruit and maintain a more talented workforce. Companies must emphasise efforts that promote workplace equality. The first step towards the same would be by increasing the number of women in the organisation by broadening recruitment networks and candidate pools. Employers also need to provide internal growth opportunities, ongoing professional and skill training, and fair retention and promotion practices. Supporting workplace flexibility rules that allow all employees to find an acceptable work/life balance would also ensure that women have equal access to leadership posts.

The most challenging thing for a working woman is to strike a decent balance between her personal and professional lives. To give equal attention to both, companies must provide suitable provisions to women such as after-school programmes for women employees' children that go beyond day-care, such as camps, educational sessions etc.

This allows women employees with families to keep demanding jobs without having to worry about leaving their children at home. It lessens the trade-off that many women face between family and career.

What advice would you give to aspiring women leaders and entrepreneurs?

Women must own their destinies. We must be willing to take calculated risks if we want to progress and pursue careers that inspire us. Most of the time, the prospects that frighten us are the ones most likely to alter the course of our careers. Yet we can only succeed by being true to ourselves. Women lead differently than men. Our inherent strengths, such as being holistic, collaborative, inclusive, and consultative, will enable us women to prosper in a global economy.

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