At Colgate-Palmolive, we are proud of our purpose to reimagine a healthier future for all people, their pets and our planet. In India, our impact efforts are focused on five pillars: health education, water access, digital literacy and financial inclusion, waste management and STEM. In total, our efforts impact tens of millions of people across India each year.
A common theme across each of these pillars is access to information. By being a conduit for information and a facilitator for learning, particularly for populations that are underserved in this regard, we can be a catalyst for change in the communities where we operate and bring widespread benefits to large numbers of people.
We deliberately locate many of our projects near our factories and offices, so our communities can directly benefit from our efforts. But the impact of our efforts goes beyond our physical footprint. Our programs on oral health bring value to local governments where we engage with public health authorities and their health care teams. Our educational programs benefit local teachers and provide support for their schools. Ultimately, our focus on inclusion of underserved populations in these important topics supports our narrative around what the Colgate brand stands for and the value it brings to our customers.
To promote access to education, our Keep India Smiling scholarship program was started in 2019 to support deserving students who, due to financial constraints, often miss out on opportunities to further their education or enhance their future employability. The program supports students in STEM-related fields including dentistry and engineering and provides additional support in interpersonal skills development and language and career guidance.
Since its inception, CP India has supported over 7,000 students with scholarship awards and each year we support around 1,000 scholars, 50% of which are Dental Students and 60% of which are women.
Supporting the development of financial and digital literacy for women and persons with disabilities is another key component to our Keep India Smiling program. In this rapidly evolving digital era, various sectors like education, healthcare, manufacturing, and financial services are undergoing fundamental change. The benefits of this change are clear as digitalization drives efficiency, innovation, and economic growth. This is particularly true for women in rural areas as they systemically lack adequate digital literacy which poses fundamental challenges to their participation in the digital economy and access to financial services.
We took a significant step towards supporting the empowerment of women and people with disabilities regarding financial and digital literacy with our Digital Sakhis program. Women in rural communities are trained to be advocates in their villages and help other women learn essential money management skills. They utilize digital tools to gain access to financial support and other social programs. These efforts foster greater economic independence, confidence, and social inclusion within the communities where we operate.
