Founder chairman of Wipro Group Azim Premji on Tuesday said the Group will continue to invest and create employment opportunities in Telangana.
“We find the State government is very progressive, committed and equally proactive...,” he told the inauguration of Wipro Consumer Care factory in Maheshwaram, near Hyderabad, an event in which Telangana ministers K. T. Rama Rao and Sabitha Indra Reddy, elected representatives and officials participated.
The Group will continue to create employment opportunities, more for women, because as a philosophy “we do believe more women should come into the workforce as they are extraordinarily committed,” said Mr. Premji, who is also a well known philanthropist. Citing the financial burden the pandemic had imposed on the people, he urged the State government to work with public and private sector banks to subsidise some of the loans the poor had taken from sharks. “Please do not underestimate how extensive and hard it is for the people,” he added.
Stating that Mr. Premji is an illustrious citizen of the country and known for humility, charity and building world class institutions, Industries and IT Minister Mr. Rao urged said the Wipro Group, a software giant, is equally well known for the consumer care products it manufactured.
While urging the Group to consider Telangana for its proposed LED lights manufacturing facility, the Minister, turning to Mr. Premji, said: “we have a private university legislation in our State. Request you to consider setting a private university in Telangana... [to promote study of] social sciences. I hope we will get a chance to work with you on that front.”
Both Mr. Rao and Education Minister Ms. Reddy underscored the need for the local people and elected representatives to help companies who have invested in their area to resolve issues amicably.
In a release, Wipro Consumer Care & Lighting said construction of the facility commenced in 2018 with the acquisition of 30 acres in Maheshwaram. The company has invested ₹300 crore on the facility.
CEO Vineet Agrawal said: “at this facility, we have created direct and indirect employment for about 900 people, with over 90% of the employees being locals and about 15% women. We have strong local vendor base around the factory that has created employment for the local community.” The company produces Santoor soaps and Softouch fabric conditioners at the facility and will add manufacturing capability to produce Yardley talcum powder, Santoor hand wash and Giffy dish wash. It has invested in a state-of-the-art soap finishing line that runs on highest speed of 700 soap per minute. In addition, the company has four more soap finishing lines.
The Company said it has invested in an effluent treatment plant to ensure zero liquid discharge and backward integration processes by way of setting up a fatty acid and glycerine distillation and soap noodle making plant.
