OUR CORRESPONDENT
TEZPUR: A 15-km run was organized for the community members at Bateli TE (MLD Group) as a post-celebration of the International Women’s Day. The event was organized by SeSTA as a part of the Women Safety Accelerator Fund (WSAF) programme. The run started from the football field of Bateli TE with the participants running through Mazbat TE and Mazbat town to come and finish off at the Hospital field of Bateli TE. The primary aim behind the ‘Run for Equality – 15 km run to end Gender-Based Violence’ was to create awareness on violence against women and girls and create equality for women in sports. The race saw participation of children as young as 10 years and women as old as 42 years.
Neeta Tiwari, Social & Environmental Sustainability Coordinator for MLD Group said, “This is just an amazing event and the main thing is that the strength of the girls of the estate was showcased today. The 15-km run was for both boys and girls and that shows the equality. It is very encouraging to see even married women participating. That shows that there is no fear, taboo or restrictions from their families. This is an example for everyone that women are no less than men.”
Around 144 people from the community participated in the race. The General Manager of Bateli TE, Ashish Tiwari while talking about the importance of women’s safety, said, “Every person must start the change in their own household. When the change begins in an individual or in a family, the society will change automatically.”
The Women’s Safety Accelerator Fund (WSAF) is a bold programme to address women’s safety and gender-based violence in the Indian tea sector. The fund has been set up in partnership by Unilever, IDH– the Sustainable Trade Initiative, Tesco, Twinings, Taylors of Harrogate and Ethical Tea Partnership. SeSTA has been an implementing partner of this programme since 2021 and has been working towards women’s safety at the Bateli TE for the past one year.
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