The textile industry continues to awe and inspire. Most often, what we hear about the textile industry are complaints about the pollution, inhumane work condition, unsatisfied labour force, and worse, the exploitation of the workers. But that’s no longer the case with the industry today. A lot of companies set up their factories in the rural areas of the country, which not only acts as a stable employment option. But some companies go as far as to change the lives of their employees.
One such mill is the spinning unit of GHCL that has transformed the lives of thousands of workers, especially women, from over 15 districts of Tamil Nadu. GHCL’s spinning unit is located near Madurai. It manufactures multiple varieties of yarn ranging from 16s to 32s in the open end, 30s to 120s in ring-spun compact counts in 100 per cent cotton, and 24s to 70s counts in blended yarns. With a turnover of around Rs. 600 crores, the company believes that it is only because of the efforts of their workers that this has been made possible. The story behind the mill’s growth isn’t a rosy one.
The spinning mill was set up in 1956 by the late Karumuttu Tyagarajan Chettiar. A well-known industrialist and also the founder of a number of educational institutions in Tamil Nadu, Chettiar’s legacy lives on. Post his death in 1974, the businesses were split among the family members. By early 1990s, the spinning mill business was in utter disarray. Labour disputes, loan defaults, quality issues and constant loss plagued the mill.
Sometime during the mid-1990s, the Dalmia Group decided to step in and buy the mill. Mr. R.S. Jalan, the current Managing Director of GHCL, was sent to settle disputes and liquidate the assets. But something about the workers and the mill made Mr. Jalan reconsider. Instead of liquidating the assets he decided to revive the old and battered mill.
The change wasn’t an easy one. During 1997-2004, he transformed Chettiyar’s Sri Meenakshi Mills into GHCL’s state-of-the-art spinning unit. But what distinguished this spinning unit from the rest is its work culture. The pride and respect every employee and the management have for each other are unlike anywhere else. GHCL has been awarded and recognised as one of the best workplaces in the manufacturing sector by the Great Place to Work Institute. They have also been honoured with the Golden Peacock Award for ‘Corporate Governance’ and the Golden Peacock Award for ‘Corporate Social Responsibility’ for the year 2017. SIMA has ranked them at the top position for the last 10 years, for technical performance. And, what is the reason for this tremendous change and success?
Mr. A. Elangovan, Senior General Manager (Production), who is sometimes is fondly reffered to as, Appa, meaning ‘father’ in Tamil, has been instrumental in inculcating the fantastic work culture that prevails in the unit. Mr. Elangovan owes most of it to the encouragement and support he received from the management and his team. He proudly states that Mr. Jalan is his role model. “It was his vision that made this possible. He is very inspiring,” he says.
While taking a look around the spinning unit, one was surprised to see how close every worker came to greet him, and not once was he addressed as sir. And like an affectionate father, he stopped by to speak to every one of them. And no, it wasn’t only about work, he seems to know every worker personally.
GHCL has a large percentage of young girls employed in its spinning unit. It makes one wonder that shouldn’t this be the age where they study, learn and spend with their mates? But, that is exactly what they do here at the factory. Over the last decade or so, the unit has never sent out any recruiting teams to employ anyone. “Recruitment has always happened by word of mouth. Whoever worked here has brought in the others. Most of these girls who work here belong to families living below the poverty line. Nearly 20 per cent girls are orphans, and another 40 per cent have only one surviving parent,” adds Mr. Elangovan.
The mill has an on-campus hostel which can accommodate 600 girls. At present, there are 450 girls living there, and at least 30-40 girls join it annually.
The hostel is an all-girls hostel with lady wardens, lady security, nurse and a visiting lady doctor and counsellor. These girls have an education level of grade 8. “We need at least one guardian or parent to accompany them, along with some form of address proof and identity proof. They all usually come from families living below the poverty line,” says Ms. Umarani, who is a counsellor at the hostel. She visits them for a couple of hours thrice a week. Like Mr. Elangovan, Ms. Umarani is also on a first-name basis with everyone. She works here on a contract basis because that helps her maintain an unbiased judgment of a particular situation.
The guardian or the parent who accompanies these girls is given an ID card, which is the sole way to come and meet the girls. “They cannot give the card to anyone else. They done can come to visit. We usually spend a lot of time with the parents/guardians and girls and we know them personally. It helps to keep the girls safe,” says Ms. Umarani.
There is a separate HR department to manage the affairs and meet the day-to-day needs of the girls who live in these hostels. Once the girls are enrolled in the hostels, they are given a separate dorm. Each girl is given a bedsheet, pillow, toiletries, and safety gear like the mask, ear plugs, cap, apron and nose mask. “They are away from family and are now in a new environment. Adjusting and coping up with it is difficult,” she adds.
Initially, they are taught the basic functions in the mill. Apart from that, the company has tied up with various institutions that provide them with vocational training. “After a few years of working, many girls get married and leave the job. But once out in the world, they must be able to sustain themselves and support their family if need be,” says Mr. Elangovan. “We make it compulsory for the girls to learn at least one other skill, apart from that needed for the factory. But, most girls, tend to take up every training that is available.”
Most girls show a flair and willingness to complete their education. This too is taken care of. Several of them quit studying because of the family constraints. Here they get to work and earn and also finish their studies.
As a part of vocational training in computer course, life skills, tailoring, Yoga, home-made products making, etc. The courses have been chosen keeping in mind the needs of the future of the girls. In fact, their knowledge in the above-mentioned courses can also help them avail bank loans.
They are also taken on one-day excursions, and nearly every festival is celebrated with games and cultural programs. “All our bosses come. Appa hasn’t missed a single program that we have performed,” says Kavita, who has been with the company for nearly four years.
As a matter of fact, it is these employees who represent the company at various national and international conventions and conferences. “We are all from Tamil medium schools. We barely ever speak or interact in English. But when we had to represent our company, not only were we terrified of the idea, but also of the huge responsibility upon us,” says Kavita.
She, along with three others, have gone to Thailand and won the Gold Award at the International Convention of Quality Control Circles. They presented with such confidence that even the judges were in awe of the group, more so because they are all from rural pockets in Tamil Nadu with just basic education in their regional language.
Kavita discloses: “We were not just proud of ourselves, we were glad that even our bosses were happy. The experience was just out of the world. I have stood below and seen the sky, it is because of this company and their support did I not only fly high but also made them proud.”
This is no mean achievement. Not only were they prepared for the presentation but also compete with international level teams. They were awarded silver cups and a cash reward of Rs. 2000 each by the company, as a token of its appreciation.
Kavita beams with so much joy, while narrating her experience, it is infectious! She has so much more to say but cuts it short by saying she is blessed and that she owes it all to Appa.
There is absolutely nothing that the girls or their parents can complain of! Parents who had come to visit their daughters are glad their daughters are safe, and most important of all, happy. A parent says: “I have three daughters, and one of them is here. She finished her Standard 11 and will attempt standard 12 exams next year. And my youngest daughter will also come here.”
Her only complaint is that her daughter, Bharthi, is so happy here that she refuses to visit home. “Even for festivals, she wants to stay back. And she has changed and looks beautiful. I am so glad,” her mother adds. When parents come to visit, they stay for nearly the whole day, eat and stay where their girls stay.
These employees are given all the State prescribed benefits like ESI, PF, leave, etc.
They have a nurse who is available 24 hours. Apart from that, a lady doctor visits them thrice a week for two hours. A gynecologist by training, she makes sure the girls are hale and hearty! There are regular check-ups for anemia, PCOD, etc. They also get the medication free of cost.
There are a number of women whose lives changed. Right from becoming financially independent to being the financial backbone of their family, the women who have worked with GHCL’s spinning plant are equipped to earn a livelihood for their lifetime. A lot of them who quit the company post their marriage still come to visit their extended family.
All of this is not a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. It is the way they function. Even before women empowerment was discussed, GHCL’s spinning mill in Madurai had an effective and powerful system established. Women empowerment may be a trend now, but here it has been the tradition for the last 15 years.