Sujata Agrawal

Bonding, caring and sharing is what defines Maitree, a forum that unites the wider TCS community — employees and their families — through a variety of activities

"I have met so many women who need to just communicate with each other and share their experiences and problems," says Mala Ramadorai. That’s the core competency of Maitree, an extensive forum of women (and men) who reach out to the Tata Consultancy Services family as well as the wider community.

Maitree is all about friendship, bonding, sharing and caring. Started by Ms Ramadorai, an educator with many years of experience and a wide variety of interests, the organisation celebrated its first anniversary on February 23, 2003.

Maitree was born of Ms Ramadorai’s personal journey. "Being an ‘IT wife’, I know what women with husbands in this industry have to go through," she says. The life of a TCSer frequently involves moving to different cities or countries. For men this may merely mean a change of cubicle, but for women it often involves adjusting to a different culture, away from family and friends, where the challenges are many and support systems maybe rare.

Ms Ramadorai says that with TCS having offices in diverse locations, there was a need for the organisation to cultivate a sense of belonging among its employees and their families. That’s what Maitree endeavours to do. "I believe — and this may be old fashioned — that a company, besides providing employment, should also provide cultural moorings and help with assimilation. Care and support are very Indian values; they are rooted in our heritage."

Maitree makes a difference where it counts, be it with finding a school for the children, easing the language problems that spouses often encounter in a new place or help in giving women opportunities to get out of their homes and talk with other people, discuss a book or volunteer for community service -- essentially something beyond housework.

Most TCS spouses are well educated, and some may have cut short promising professional careers to become homemakers. This is a source that Ms Ramadorai is constantly looking to tap. "There are endless possibilities for corporate people to give back to the community. The well educated can bring many benefits to the community, and share their expertise with other wives and children. For instance, many mothers living in the United States are worried about their children not knowing Hindi, and what this might mean when they return to Indian schools. A solution here could be a TCSer spouse who teaches Hindi not only to her own children but to other kids as well."

In Denver, USA, for instance, some TCS spouses who are qualified MCAs and BCAs are interested in doing back-office work. In Hartford, Connecticut, USA, a spouse is involved in raising money for the local scouts and guides organisation. Many women are interested in teaching art and creativity, and look for tangible ways of offering their skills. "There is a great sense of satisfaction for these women in doing such things," says Ms Ramadorai, "and there are many women who are doing this sporadically wherever they go. I believe it’s possible for us to pool these resources." This can also help them build self-esteem and confidence. In Bangalore two TCS wives got together and discovered that they shared an interest and have now set up a business based on this interest.

"Small success stories such as this illustrate the fact that, while housewives are doing an essential job, the kind of satisfaction that comes from creating something gives women self-confidence," says Ms Ramadorai.

Ms Ramadorai also wants the spouses to know what is happening in TCS. "It helps them understand the work their husbands or wives are doing. I want them to have pride in and talk confidently about the work that TCS does, which is why we often ask employees to give presentations to the spouses."

Maitree also works at another level: drawing TCSers to extra-curricular activities. Ms Ramadorai says that she often finds employees talking about their hobbies, and how they have taken a backseat because of work demands. She is trying to redress the balance. For instance, Maitree has started yoga classes for the employees and their spouses. And there’s a 60-member music club at the organisation’s corporate headquarters in Mumbai. This rhythm will soon be rolling to TCS’s Malad and Seepz centres in the city.

Children are another focus area for Maitree. This has resulted in children’s libraries in Mumbai and Kolkata, with computers and educational software next in line. In 2002, during the summer vacation, when parents looked for activities to keep their children occupied, a Maitree member put together a four-day activity programme.

There is growing awareness about Maitree within TCS and new chapters are opening in many cities. Some are just starting while others are more developed. "There are some basic objectives and also a lot of learning," says Ms Ramadorai, "with inputs from the people on what they would like to do. At new places I tell them to start with one thing and then build on that."

Maitree’s monthly newsletter has grown from two pages to eight. "We find that the print medium works best in creating awareness," says Nina Screwvala, a consultant with Maitree. "We had one women writing to us about her paintings and her children. We carried the article and now everyone knows her. We can all identify with her."

Maitree celebrated its first anniversary in Mumbai with a fun picnic which had games and stalls where the spouses put up products for sale. Ms Ramadorai is now working on getting more people involved in the initiative and giving them an opportunity to showcase their talents.

Maitree means friendship in a host of Indian languages. At TCS it stands for that and much more.

Uploaded in March 2003