Category: News

New Delhi, July 9: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today applauded the contribution of people, authorities and NGOs of Varanasi in helping the needy during the COVID-19 pandemic, and urged citizens to strictly adhere to guidelines to prevent the spread of the deadly virus

New Delhi, July 9: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today applauded the contribution of people, authorities and NGOs of Varanasi in helping the needy during the COVID-19 pandemic, and urged citizens to strictly adhere to guidelines to prevent the spread of the deadly virus.

While interacting via digital mode with representatives of various Varanasi-based non-government organisations via video link, he said Kashi has vigorously countered the unprecedented coronavirus crisis.

Varanasi, which is also known as Kashi, is the prime minister’s parliamentary constituency.

Uttar Pradesh with a population of nearly 24 crore people has been able to contain the spread of COVID-19 disease, he said, adding that those infected with the virus are also recovering fast.

Modi said Brazil with an almost similar population has seen thousands of deaths due to COVID-19 but in Uttar Pradesh, the deaths were limited to nearly 800.

He said Varanasi can emerge as an export hub and develop as a key centre of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ campaign in the coming days.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the government on Monday said CSR spending for COVID-19 will be considered as corporate social responsibility (CRS) activity. In view of the spread of novel #CoronaVirus in India, its declaration as pandemic by the WHO

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the government on Monday said CSR spending for COVID-19 will be considered as corporate social responsibility (CRS) activity.

“In view of the spread of novel #CoronaVirus in India, its declaration as pandemic by the WHO, and decision of Government of India to treat this as notified disaster, it is hereby clarified that spending of CSR funds for COVID-19 is eligible CSR activity,” Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tweeted.

Funds may be spent for various activities related to COVID-19 under items (i) and (ii) of schedule VII relating to promotion of health care, including preventive health care and sanitation, and disaster management, she added.

Hero Cycles has partners with micro-loan provider Muthoot Microfin to provide bicycles to low income households and women entrepreneurs in rural areas, especially in South India. The partnership is aimed at making bicycles easily accessible to poorer

Hero Cycles has partners with micro-loan provider Muthoot Microfin to provide bicycles to low income households and women entrepreneurs in rural areas, especially in South India.

The partnership is aimed at making bicycles easily accessible to poorer households through the availability of microfinance facilities, an official statement said.

Under the scheme, Hero Cycles has made separate bicycle models available for women and men.

Through this arrangement, Muthoot Microfin’s over 6,00,000 clients across 150 branches in Tamil Nadu will have access to affordable mobility through Hero Cycles.

Hero Motors Chairman and Managing Director Pankaj M Munjal said: “Bicycles are often an underrated yet powerful tool of empowerment for the marginalized. Making bicycles easily accessible to a large number of people can bring about significant improvement in the state of their livelihoods and earnings.”

Unfortunately, gathering enough money to spend on buying a bicycle remains a challenge for a large number of households despite it being the most affordable mode of transport, he said, adding that providing microfinance is therefore one of the most viable ways to increase penetration of bicycles among the rural and urban poor.

For micro entrepreneurs, owning a bicycle can boost their earnings by expanding their catchment areas for work, he said.

“We have had similar arrangements with microfinance providers in the past. We are happy to be part of another such initiative that will empower the rural and urban poor,” Munjal added.

Speaking on the initiative, Muthoot Microfin CEO Sadaf Sayeed said: “Together we aim to empower our clients with access to mobility. Muthoot Microfin has been fostering a spirit of entrepreneurship by providing timely credit to more than 1.8 million women across India and with this partnership we are further enabling clients to earn their livelihood.”

A study undertaken by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and All India Cycle Manufacturers’ Association estimated that for marginal unskilled workers who walk to work every day, a 50 per cent substitution of walking trips above the average distance of 3.5 km can result in travel time savings worth Rs 112 billion collectively.

Vedanta Ltd, Jharsuguda conducted a weeklong campaign to spread awareness on HIV/AIDS, reaching out to nearly 8000 people including employees, partner organizations, truckers, students, community and Jharsuguda citizenry. Various activities and interventions like IEC material distribution

Vedanta Ltd, Jharsuguda conducted a weeklong campaign to spread awareness on HIV/AIDS, reaching out to nearly 8000 people including employees, partner organizations, truckers, students, community and Jharsuguda citizenry.

Various activities and interventions like IEC material distribution, awareness sessions, street plays, etc. were conducted as a part of the campaign in collaboration with OSACS and Wockhardt Foundation, depicting this year’s theme ‘Ending the HIV/AIDS Epidemic, Community by Community’ as initiated by OSACS.

The campaign started on World Aids Day with a showcase of solidarity as employee volunteers led by the CSR team distributed red ribbons and informative materials at the plant premises, to create awareness amongst all employees, partner companies and everyone associated with our operations. Post that, the campaign spread outwards to include community members, college students, and truckers and mobile workforce and residents of nearly 24 villages of Jharsuguda.

Over the week, various activities and awareness sessions were conducted at the Jharsuguda Women’s College, LN College, Black Diamond Engineering College and Reserve Police Lane. The awareness sessions were conducted under the expertise of OSACS by resource personnel Shiva Prasad Ojha and Prashant Patra.

“Our CSR department partnered the Mirror Theatre Group for spreading awareness on HIV/AIDS prevention through street plays at multiple locations inside the plant premises, Bhurkamunda village, Sarbahal, etc. addressing truckers, migrant workforce and community members in the process.”, the company said.

Speaking on the company’s CSR efforts CN Singh, CEO – Vedanta Ltd., Jharsuguda said, “We are the first organization in the state to roll out an Employer Led Model of HIV/AIDS awareness & prevention project – Jagruti in partnership with OSACS, which was greatly appreciated by NACO as well. As a company, we are committed to delivering sustainable and responsible growth, transforming the lives of communities around us for the better. We are driven by a safety-first culture, with focus on prevention first and our CSR efforts are aligned to the same.”

Ashwini Kumar Mohanty, Superitendent of Police – Jharsuguda, thanked Vedanta Ltd., Jharsuguda and OSACS for organizing the awareness session, initiating an open dialogue on the topic of HIV/AIDS and addressing the queries and concerns of participants.

“Health & sanitation is an important dimension of Vedanta Ltd., Jharsuguda’s CSR outreach. Our CSR dept. has sensitized nearly 30,000 people including employees, partner organizations, truckers, community members, students and vulnerable mass through efforts in HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention in the last three years alone, and sustained efforts are underway to reach out to and educate more people in the days to come.”, the Company informed.

Industry leaders today stressed on the need for integration of ‘design thinking’ and ‘inclusive growth’ into the CSR practice and called for corporate social innovation and strategic partnerships as a key to achieving sustainable growth. Speaking at the Brand Leadership and CSR summit event

Industry leaders today stressed on the need for integration of ‘design thinking’ and ‘inclusive growth’ into the CSR practice and called for corporate social innovation and strategic partnerships as a key to achieving sustainable growth.

Speaking at the Brand Leadership and CSR summit event in New Delhi, Aishwarya Mahajan of Aid-et Action International (AAI)– an NGO working on education — said: “The success of a social sector intervention is based on the benefit to its end-user community and the development of such interventions cannot be done in isolation.”

As a matter of fact, the process of project development needs to embody the concept of the human connect which taps capacities hitherto overlooked by conventional problem-solving approaches, he said.

He also said that incorporating ‘Design Thinking’ to solving a problem is a participatory solution and a key driver for social change in India.

At AAI, two major initiatives namely ‘Initiative for livelihood Education (ILEAD)’ and ‘My Gakidh Village’ in Bhutan are inherently optimistic, constructive, and experiential in addressing the needs of the people.

Also, these programmes have evolved in the years when the term ‘Design Thinking’ was not even coined and there was little awareness regarding it,” he added.

Asserting that the role of CSR is crucial in nation-building, Brand India Founder Nidhi Robbins Simon said it is important for filling crucial gaps in empowering women, children and senior citizens.

“With development taking place at an unprecedented rate, it remains imperative that the former is planned for, and enacted, sustainably in a way that acknowledges our collective role as caretakers of our environment, economy and society for future generations,” he added.

The summit provided an opportunity for all CSR stakeholders to converge on a common platform and share their valuable insights on how organizations are using CSR to integrate economic, environmental and social objectives with their operations and growth.

Over 12 organizations were felicitated at the summit for achieving excellence in CSR. The event was supported by Power grid with Karunya University as the knowledge partner and PR Professionals as a PR partner

The Andhra Pradesh Government is targeting to raise at least Rs 1,000 crore through contributions from different sources in the ongoing financial year under a new initiative called ‘Connect-to-Andhra.’ The funds thus obtained will be utilised on the government’s flagship “Navaratnalu” programme

The Andhra Pradesh Government is targeting to raise at least Rs 1,000 crore through contributions from different sources in the ongoing financial year under a new initiative called ‘Connect-to-Andhra.’

The funds thus obtained will be utilised on the government’s flagship “Navaratnalu” programme (nine schemes), under which aid will be given to people through various schemes.

The Chief Minister is chairman of the apex advisory board of CTA, which will be implemented on a mission mode. In the 2018-19 financial year, various companies and organisations spent Rs 62.59 crore on various projects under Corporate Social Responsibility. The government received another Rs 13.3 crore for implementation of CSR schemes.

Besides CSR grants from business houses, the government is now targeting to secure “philanthropic funds” from “high net-worth individuals” like industrialists, public representatives and film stars and also “social impact investments” from organisations like Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Michael and Susan Dell Foundation and also non-governmental organisations.

“My government is committed in its efforts to bring upward mobility in the lives of the marginalised population. Our flagship schemes Navaratnalu cater to universal healthcare, access to education, housing, social security for the deserved,” Chief Minister YS JAGAN Mohan Reddy has said in a message on the launch of Connect-to-Andhra (CTA).

Donations will also be sought from non-resident Telugus (those living abroad) and other individuals for Connect-to-Andhra. This year, the government has already identified ‘contributors’ for the new Mission and is targeting to raise Rs 1,000 crore through them.

The CTA Mission has identified several projects related to improving infrastructure in schools, polytechnics, Industrial Training Institutes, setting up of primary processing and milk collection centres, improving urban green spaces and plantation along important roads and rail tracks, restoring open forests, agro-forestry, upgrading primary and community health centres and affordable housing for the poor.

The government is exploring the option of setting up a ‘Section 8 Company’, under the Companies Act, 2013, with the name ‘Connect-to-Andhra’ for resource mobilisation, according to the Concept Note.

A Section 8 Company is intended for the promotion of commerce, art, science, sports, education, research, social welfare, religion, charity, protection of the environment, or any such other objective.

All projects hitherto taken up under Smart Andhra Pradesh Foundation, launched by the previous Telugu Desam Party government, along with the resources will be merged with the proposed company.

A Social Responsibility Wing, headed by an Indian Revenue Service officer, has been created in the state Planning Department as the nodal agency to mobilise funds for the government’s flagship welfare programmes.

A sum of over Rs 30,000 crore is required annually to implement the numerous welfare schemes like Rythu Bharosa (support to farmers), Amma Vodi (dole to mothers for sending their kids to school), Vahana Mitra (annual maintenance grant to auto and cab drivers), social security pensions, annual monetary grant for junior lawyers, fee reimbursement for students, housing for the poor, etc.

While some of these schemes are dovetailed with Central government programmes to lessen the financial burden, some are unique that requires full funding from the state coffers, official sources said. Alternatively, the government is also looking at the option of re-naming the Smart AP Foundation as ‘Connect-to-Andhra.’

Just contributing money is not what the government expects through the CSR framework and companies should ensure proactive rather than passive participation in social welfare spending activities, according to Corporate Affairs Secretary Injeti Srinivas. Speaking at the country’s first National CSR Awards

Just contributing money is not what the government expects through the CSR framework and companies should ensure proactive rather than passive participation in social welfare spending activities, according to Corporate Affairs Secretary Injeti Srinivas.

Speaking at the country’s first National CSR Awards function on Tuesday (October 29), the Corporate Affairs Secretary also made it clear that the government does not treat CSR as a resource to fill up any budgetary gap.

“It (government) treats CSR (corporate social responsibility) as a tool or instrument to find technology-driven innovative solutions to social problems. That is something very important,” he said.

Under the Companies Act, 2013, certain classes of profitable entities are required to spend at least two per cent of their three-year annual average net profit towards CSR activities in a financial year.

Since the provision came into force from April 1, 2014, the cumulative contribution has been more than Rs 50,000 crore.

“What we urge upon you (companies) is proactive participation and not passive participation. Just contributing money or giving some money (as CSR) is not what we expect.

“We expect you to look at problems, solve problems which can then be scaled up to the national level. That is something of the broader vision of CSR and you think that in the years to come, things like social impact companies, social impact bonds all these will also gain currency heavily,” Srinivas said.

The awards have been instituted by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, which is implementing the Companies Act.

Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has exhorted India Inc to expand CSR reach to poor states like Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, Bihar and North East region. Appreciating that companies have spent about Rs 13,000 crore in 2018 under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), she said, this is very

Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has exhorted India Inc to expand CSR reach to poor states like Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, Bihar and North East region.

Appreciating that companies have spent about Rs 13,000 crore in 2018 under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), she said, this is very relevant for the development of the hinterland.

“We find a significant presence of CSR in states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Delhi… states like Chattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand and Bihar also require such support from CSR. Not to forget all the eight states of North East region,” the finance minister said on the occasion of First National CSR Awards here.

The recognition has been given to wealth creators not just for wealth creation but to give back to the community in the name of CSR, she said, adding that giving back to community from the justified profit is the spirit of the CSR, which has gained a lot of traction.

Korean tech giant LG has decided to sponsor 800 cornea eye transplant surgeries across India under its initiative ‘Karein Roshni’ in association with two eye hospitals. The initiative assumes significance as India is home to a third of the world’s blind population. The country has about 12 million

Korean tech giant LG has decided to sponsor 800 cornea eye transplant surgeries across India under its initiative ‘Karein Roshni’ in association with two eye hospitals.

The initiative assumes significance as India is home to a third of the world’s blind population. The country has about 12 million individuals with visual impairment as against the global total of 39 million.

Under the Karein Roshni, the company will invite people to come forward and pledge to donate their eyes for the noble cause, the company said in a statement.

The awareness about the initiative will be created through radio and digital media. The company also plans to have on-ground activations at LG stores inviting Indian citizens to pledge for donating their eyes for this cause.

The programme will be implemented along with Sankara Eye Hospital, a not-for-profit charitable eye hospital and Dr Shroff charity eye hospital.

According to Dr Shroff Charity Eye Hospital CEO Arun Arora, India has approximately 120,000 needlessly blind people due to corneal disease with 20,000 annually adding to the list.

Corneal transplantation surgery is the best available therapeutic option that can rehabilitate these patients suffering from corneal blindness, he said.

“With our patient numbers and corneal transplant surgeries growing by the day, any kind of support from brands like LG Electronics always help. We are thankful to LG Electronics for its generous support and sponsorship. The corneal transplant surgeries coupled with Eye Donation Awareness Drive will set the momentum for a larger change for this cause in our country,” Arora added.

Sankara Eye Foundation Founder and Managing Trustee Dr R V Ramani said, “Non-availability, non-affordability and inaccessibility to quality eye care, especially in rural India, has been the challenging scenario for the economically weaker sections. We are thankful to multinationals like LG Electronics for their continuous support in making it possible for such people to follow their dreams.”

LG Electronics India Managing Director Ki Wan Kim said: “We received an overwhelming response for Karein Roshni campaign last time, and hope to receive the same this year.”

He said that the company uses both its innovation and a widespread network to create positive change in society.

“We are happy to announce Karein Roshni campaign that will help improve quality of life of people with no vision, allowing them to become more aware of the world around them and empower them with more choice, freedom and greater possibilities,” he added.

The current year is a milestone for LG Electronics as the company celebrates its 22nd anniversary in India.

State Bank of India (SBI) has launched a unique ‘Green Reward Points’ programme to onboard its YONO customers in the sustainability journey. Under this programme, SBI inspires customers to pledge earned ‘Green Reward Points’ to a pool created as ‘YONO SBI Green Fund’ which is managed by SBI Foundation

State Bank of India (SBI) has launched a unique ‘Green Reward Points’ programme to onboard its YONO customers in the sustainability journey.

Under this programme, SBI inspires customers to pledge earned ‘Green Reward Points’ to a pool created as ‘YONO SBI Green Fund’ which is managed by SBI Foundation, the bank said in a statement.

The bank through ‘YONO SBI Green Fund’ will initiate environment conservation activities through various programs.

The Fund will be used for planting of trees, constructing of bio-toilets, initiating “Conserve Water Campaign” along with setting up RO Plants in cities facing drinking water crisis, creating awareness about avoidance of single-use plastic among customers and encourage usage of solar energy across the country, it added.

SBI customer will now earn ‘Green Reward points’ through transactions on YONO and they would be given an option to pledge these points to ‘YONO SBI Green Fund’.

Customers earning Rewardz points through non-YONO transaction channels like mobile NS internet banking will be given an option to convert it into ‘Green Reward points’ which on conversion can be pledged to the fund.

All the customers pledging their points to the fund will be awarded a ‘Green e-Certificate’ as a token of appreciation towards their support for this initiative.

SBI, on the other hand, has also committed to converting lapsed ‘Green Reward Points’ of customers by informing them for environment conservation through YONO SBI Green Fund. SBI customers can earn up to 200 Green Reward points on each eligible service provided by the bank.

Speaking about the initiative, SBI Chairman Rajnish Kumar said: “With a pledge to conserve the environment, we invite all our customers to partner with us in promoting sustainability.”

To make this a wide-scale programme, SBI will proactively communicate with its customers through various channels of communication to come forward and pledge Green Reward points for the initiative, the bank added.