Municipal Corporation of Tirupati Commissioner N. Mourya presenting a beauty kit to a qualified candidate at the valedictory session of the beautician course conducted by Electrosteel Castings Limited at Srikalahasti in Tirupati district on Wednesday.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

They once spent their days tending to fields and families, with little thought of a career beyond their village boundaries. But now, these 40 rural women from Srikalahasti are redefining their futures — armed with makeup brushes, beauty kits and a newfound sense of purpose — as certified beauticians ready to step into the world of wellness and self-reliance.

Their transformation is the result of a 90-day beautician training course, part of a skill development initiative launched by Electrosteel Castings Limited (ECL) under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts. The company, which manufactures ductile iron pipes and fittings, has been extending its outreach to the villages surrounding its plant by equipping local women with employable skills.

Two batches have successfully completed the training so far, with 40 women receiving their certificates from the Commissioner of Municipal Corporation of Tirupati, N. Mourya, at a valedictory event held in Srikalahasti on Wednesday. The success of the programme has sparked interest, with a third batch of 30 women already enrolled — proof that the initiative is not just changing lives but also reshaping mindsets in rural communities.

Appreciating the initiative aimed at ensuring economic independence of women hailing from the semi-urban and low-income strata, Ms. Mourya suggested to the beauticians to use social media platforms such as X and Instagram to market their products and services.

ECL executive director Suresh Khandelwal recalled the company’s earlier success with tailoring and fashion designing courses, and spoke about the latest initiative to train local women as professional beauticians. Dorai Rauj, senior general manager of the Srikalahasti unit, highlighted ECL’s continued commitment to improving the living standards of communities around its plant through targeted outreach programmes.

Later, Ms. Mourya visited the sewage treatment plant from where ECL sources treated water for its industrial operations. Thanking the MCT for its support, Mr. Khandelwal highlighted the company’s allied eco-friendly initiatives, including the productive reuse of locally-generated waste.

Deputy chief operations officer Rajiv Prakash was also present at the event.