Infosys bags Australian CSR award

Indian IT bellwether Infosys Ltd won the 2013 Ian Kiernan award for enhancing its corporate social responsibility (CSR), becoming inclusive and meaningful to its staff and the local community through its Australian subsidiary.

The award is named after noted Australian environmentalist Kiernan and set up by the Australian Human Resource Institute, an association representing human resources and people management professionals.

The institute's awards recognise human resource and business leaders as well as companies for best practice initiatives and innovative projects.

"The award is recognition to our 700 employees who are active volunteers in our sponsored CSR initiatives, contributing to society and building closer ties with local community," Infosys's Australia subsidiary country head Jackie Korhonen said in a statement Thursday.

As part of their CSR activities, about 50 officials are currently regular volunteers at the Ozanam House kitchen, a St Vincent De Paul facility, supporting homeless people in Melbourne.

"Since the past three years, Infosys's employees have been assisting our catering team in preparing over 8,000 meals a month for our lunch time meal programme. We would not be able to provide this level of fresh, healthy and nutritious meals without their support," Ozanam volunteer coordinator Louise Augustinus said in the statement from Melbourne.

Korhonen has also been participating in other CSR activities to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer causes and the homeless.

The global software major has made donations and offered paid leave to its techies to take part in their own CSR initiatives such as participating in the Australian arm of Random Hacks of Kindness, a global collaboration of experts who develop technology solutions for natural disasters and other community challenges.