Project ‘Garima’ aiming to change Indian Attitude towards Cleaning Profession
For the second year running, Diversey India Hygiene Pvt Ltd has achieved the honour of being placed on the Inclusive Business List. Diversey India Hygiene has qualified due to the achievements of their Garima: Diversey School of Hygiene, India. “Garima” – the Hindi word for dignity – refers to the company’s skill development initiative, which offers opportunity for India’s unemployed youth to learn the basic Science of Cleaning behind hygiene.
Himanshu Jain, President of Diversey APAC, describes Diversey’s strategy and said “What Diversey is trying to do in India is eventually transforming the cleaning industry in all towns and villages of the country, to make a real difference to people’s lives. We’re introducing the concept that cleaning and hygiene is a scientific process rather than a chore. It’s more about disease prevention than dirt removal. Garima reflects our belief about creating a healthy and safe world is of paramount importance. We still tend to look at a cleaning professional as just a cleaner or janitor, not someone who is important in our lives.”
Diversey’s ambitious ‘Garima’ project - which began in 2016 in six Indian states, is one of the very few initiatives that have focused on employment for all its trainees. The determination to alter the perception of janitorial work saw 2,500 people successfully trained in the first year. The programme is a perfect example of Diversey generating a shared economic value with their partners and for their communities.
Himanshu Jain – who also featured as a panellist in the Summit’s discussions stresses: “Diversey is trying to bring about change in Indian society. Cleaners may have smaller earnings, but that’s absolutely no reason for their dignity to be any lower than other professions. Through initiatives like Garima, Diversey will unlock enormous potential in India.”
He concludes: “If we can refresh India’s attitude to cleaning and hygiene, we can build a strong sustainable future. The youths from the disadvantaged sections of society that we are training are going to be key in delivering this societal change.”
