All entrepreneurs know one thing: starting a business is hard. And when faced with bias, the challenge grows. At Colt, corporate social responsibility (CSR) is in our DNA. We believe that people matter and that together, we can change the world. Last year, we shared how, in partnership with Pure India Trust (PIT), we’ve helped women open 229 shops across Bengaluru and Gurgaon.
Our partnership doesn’t stop there. In India, 96% of the trans community is denied jobs, and those who do land opportunities tend to earn less than their colleagues. As a nation, we need to work together to ensure that the LGBTQ+ community in India is given the same fundamental rights that everyone else enjoys. This movement is not only about human rights but also about equality and humanism. We recognize that the fight for LGBTQ+ rights is ongoing and we are dedicated to helping the community receive the respect and equality they deserve. At Colt , we are committed to helping India become a place of acceptance and hope for the LGBTQ+ community. With the support of our NGO partner- Pure India Trust, we hope to make a difference in the lives of those individuals and their families. We would be helping the transgender community in skill building workshops , starting their own businesses and promoting health and safety .
Back in November, PIT met with the business owner to learn their story. Living with other community members, they wanted to serve the transgender community by stitching clothes. Now, what started as an idea, has now manifested into a shop in Gurgaon. In January, we attended the shop opening ceremony inaugurated by our Vice President of Network Engineering and India country head, Mr. Vivek Gaur. We’re proud to share that we are helping 7 transgender person open small businesses across Bangalore and Gurgaon in Q1 2023.
Pride Matters, our LGBTQ+ and allies network, has big ambitions for creating extraordinary connections with the transgender community in India. We are supporting seven more people to open businesses across Gurgaon and Bangalore. These include tailors, a flour mill, a fruit shop and a breakfast canteen.
As a business, we are committed to helping the LGBTQ+ community globally. Last year we announced that we are supporting LGBTQ+ organisations, Micro Rainbow and Stonewall Housing, by providing a free phone number and Interactive Voice Response (IVR) free of charge.
In 2022, we were recognised by Stonewall as a Top Global Employer for LGBTQ+ people, and, more recently, a gold employer in the UK. We are proud of our efforts to be a more inclusive organisation for LGBTQ+ people and continue to inspire change within our community.
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