McLeod Russel started the Bodo Handloom Scheme (BHS) in 1995 at the Borengajuli Tea Estate, Udalguri, Assam for the benefit of the local women of the Bodo tribe.

This novel and unique scheme promotes the traditional weaving skills and enables Bodo women to generate extra income whilst working from home. This has improved the standard of living for hundreds of families in the area.

The local and ethnic handloom products are proving to be immensely popular and sell well through various outlets and at the Trade fair in Assam and elsewhere in India. By generating employment and income for the local womenfolk the scheme has improved the social and economic conditions of the local tribal population in and around Borengajuli Tea Estate.

Today, yarn is procured locally at wholesale rates, dyed near Borengajuli before being distributed amongst the weavers. An office and a store for yarn and finished goods have been provided to the scheme by the tea estate and it is here that the weavers gather, twice a week. Providing yarn free of costs to weavers, who currently number 140, is the first step. Thereafter guidance in design, colour combinations, sizes and finish of the products ensure that a consistent quality is maintained.

In the last three years, a number of sales have been organised in Guwahati, initially with the help of well-known bodies such as North Eastern Women's Entrepreneurs' Association and the Crafts Council of India. BHS meets the hospital linen requirements of almost all the McLeod Russel tea gardens in both Assam and Dooars. From the initial capital made available (interest free) by McLeod Russel and orders from within the group has provided continuous and steady work to all the weavers over the last nine years.

The support we provide the scheme has been unstinted and is part of our groups Social Responsibility programme.The BHS is now working with Yorkshire Tea to promote BHS products in the UK. Yorkshire Tea will be donating all sale proceeds to the BHS.

 

By law we provide free accommodation and sanitation to our employees, we meet all our legal obligations.

 

McLeod Russel has promoted a health care program called "Mothers' Club", which is a unique institution compromising of about 20 senior women workers on each estate, who provide the guidance on health care, family planning and sexual health, including prevention of AIDS, good practices in hygiene at home and for babies. As a result of this infant mortality rates are lower than the national average.

They also extend support to ongoing ILO and UNICEF programmes

By law we provide for adequate welfare and recreational facilities for our employees and we pride ourselves in maintaining creches, clubs and sporting sites for all our company's employees to use. We also comply with the legal requirement to provide blankets and protective clothing (like shoes and umbrellas) and regularly issue new items out.

By law we allow every employee the right to form and join a Trade Union.

 

The Williamson Magor Education Trust was instrumental in the construction of the Law Faculty building at Guwahati University. Law and justice being one of the fundamental pillars of democracy the Trust supports legal education and hopes that the faculty produces top grade lawyers and judges to serve the state of Assam and the Nation.

Williamson Magor & Co. Limited donated the air conditioned auditorium at the Vivekananda Kendra in Guwahati. This auditorium is used for holding discourses, seminars and lectures on art, culture and a wide array of subjects affecting society.

 

McLeod Russel constructed the Balaji Temple on land donated by the Assam government in Guwahati, the capital of Assam.

The area around this magnificent temple has been converted into a green belt that provides a safe and pollution-free haven for devotees and visitors.

 

Due to the climatic conditions that regularly cause infrastructure blockages McLeod Russel assists wherever possible with the maintenance of roads and bridges, including those on public highways. We see this use of our resources as an integral part of allowing our employees and the public to manage their daily life with as little disruption as possible.

We are proud to assist the State Governments and people of the Assam and West Bengal.

 

In its mission to preserve and promote the literary heritage of Assam, the Williamson Magor Education Trust has published several invaluable manuscripts in the form of books in association with premier literary bodies like the Asom Sahitya Sabha and Bodo Sahitya Sabha. It has undertaken the task of translating a number of works from Assamese into English so as to generate a wider relationship.