It has been rightly said that ‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world’, and so perhaps, feels the KPR Group from Coimbatore…
In fact education today has become one of the primary CSR strategies of many Indian textile and apparel exporters, and KPR Group is one such organization that has attained an edge in this regard. Being one of the largest vertically integrated apparel manufacturing companies, KPR has a work force of 20,000 employees and a sales turnover of over Rs. 3,000 crore. Recently it was in news as about 189 girl employees of the company successfully passed their 12th examination this year. This is just a beginning of the several measures taken by the company to promote education among its workers/staff. Apparel Online tries to get a look at these initiatives.
The Group made a humble beginning in 1971 as a powerloom fabric manufacturer and grew gradually; so far more than 20,000 employees have been benefited by availing the higher education facilities extended at KPR through tie-ups with leading universities and excellent coaching by well-trained and experienced teachers. Making best use of its educational facilities, several employees and aspirants continue to excel in the Government examinations securing higher ranks and gold medals. “To quote some, an employee secured first rank in Tamil Nadu Open University Examination 2015 and was awarded gold medal by the Governor of Tamil Nadu. Again in the academic year 2016-17 and also in the plus two examinations, an employee had secured 1123 marks out of 1200 and in all, more than 25 employees have secured over 1000 marks,” proudly shared the Founder of the Group, K. P. Ramasamy, fondly known as ‘KPR’, who recently completed 68 years of his life.
KPR further added that rural women, who were earlier living unaware of the modern facilities, and were deprived of higher education in the villages due to their economic conditions, today carry a hope of the promising future. Even the girls who have completed their plus two would get the opportunity to pursue their graduation degree in Arts, Commerce and Business Administration at the units wherever they are working. The company’s tie up with Tamil Nadu Open University is a big support for them in this regard. There are already many girls at the mill who have done their graduation through this system as well and continue to work at its units but those who are willing to do full-time regular study in private colleges are also allowed to do so by the company.
The list of CSR and sustainable initiatives of KPR Group is quite long, and it covers a very wide gamut, like windmill, tree plantation, re-cycling of waste water, producing bio-gas from human waste, support to Clean India Campaign, and variety of regular donations…
The Group has also taken the endeavour to employ 36 full-time teachers to help the students in its four textile mills and three garment units and it also bears 90 per cent cost of their studies. But is it easy for the girls to dedicate time to their studies along with the regular work hours? KPR Group ensures that its employees work for eight hours a day and study for around three hours daily to prepare for their exams.
R. Ramya, who scored 1123 marks (in Commerce stream) in her plus two examination, dreams to become an IAS officer and she is very rightfully dreaming as her company has become a master piece in its commitment towards education, by establishing ‘KPR IAS Academy’ that offers ‘free’ coaching for UPSC and TNPSC exams. Many of its aspirants have even proved their mettle and cleared the exam under various categories, which was once considered as an inaccessible career for them.
The next generation of the Group and K.P. Ramasamy’s son C. R. Anandakrishnan, and son-in-law E. K. Sakthivel, both EDs of the Group, are on the same path and are embarking to carry forward this legacy further under their leadership.
Apart from all the above mentioned developments, KPR Charities, a public trust, imparts quality education through its educational institution KPR Institute of Engineering & Technology. It has received the 5th rank among the 67 private engineering colleges at Coimbatore and is also on the verge of being ranked as one of the top 20 institutions in Tamil Nadu by AICTE.
These employees-cum-students accept that facilities like safe shelter, nutritious food, hygienic and comfortable living conditions, recreation, yoga, sports, library, swimming pool and more than all ‘a feel at home atmosphere’ is something that motivates them to study and they easily score good marks despite their working schedule.
