Corporate Commitment

The corporate world is becoming increasingly visible in the fight for social causes, and in their involvement with social welfare programmes. We take a look at a few companies that are doing stellar work in fields as diverse as painting and heritage restoration, and preservation of dying species, to rural welfare and education programmes.

Tata group of companies

The Tata group is well known for its work in the fields of social welfare, and for its constant support to social causes. With over 90 member companies, the scope and nature of their projects is vast indeed. While each company is involved in social projects individually, the Tata Council for Community Initiatives (TCCI) was formed in December 1994 to act as a central organisation that would bring about united effort to expand and widen its community development programmes.

 

The Companies professionally managed programmes span vital areas of rural life, from agriculture & employment generation to education & healthcare. Drawing on the numerous finely honed skills of all the Companies, the welfare programmes have made great strides in developing infrastructure like roads in remote areas. Dispensaries, mobile clinics, family planning centres and health camps, cater to the medicare needs of the community. There has been considerable improvement in irrigation facilities by the building of dams and culverts; high - yielding varieties of seed and fertilizers are being dispersed to farmers, who are also receiving training in agricultural practices. Vocational training centres have been started with special provisions to train and employ Harijans,Tribals and the handicapped.

The Lifeline Express or the Jeevan Rekha Express has received international acclaim and the coveted United Nations Award for Excellence in Public Service. The first if its kind in the world, this hospital on rails was flagged off in 1991 and has travelled all over the country on its precious medical mission. A joint project of Impact and Voltas, the 3 - coach Express was overhauled at a cost of Rs 84.76 lakh and is equipped with a modern air - conditioned operation theatre, three operating tables, as well as a sterilization room, a diagnostic centre and 12 beds for post - operative care. To date, the Express has visited 16 villages in eight states, and served nearly 100,000 disabled people.From afforestation programmes to artificial fertilization programmes to breed the Deccan Mahaseer, environmental projects have always featured high on the Groups list of priorities. Species of wild - life like the one - horned rhinoceros have been pulled back form the brink of extinction. Poachers were killing the rhinos

for its horn which is a valuable commodity in the Far Eastern countries. Between January 1993 and June 1994, 47 one - horned rhinos were killed, leaving only 1,164 survivors, of which the majority are found in the Kaziranga National Park in Guwahati.

Tata Tea, along with eight other tea companies established the Rhino Foundation for Nature, an NGO Trust. By providing the Assam forest department with wireless systems and protective arms, they are assisting in the fight against illegal poaching.

Larsen & Toubro

Preservation of the environment and involvement for the benefit of the community has long been a part of Larsen & Toubros corporate philosophy. The company has, over the years demonstrated this commitment in numerous ways, and continues to lay emphasis on social responsibility.

L&Ts rural development programmes have brought the benefits of technology to many small and remote areas of the country. Surrounding L&Ts cement plant at Awarpur in Maharashtra is a cluster of villages that have reaped an enormous benefit from VIKAS an acronym for Village Improvement Know-how And Skills. VIKAS provides medical aid, builds schools to further education and teaches the villagers self - employment skills. Farmers receive the benefit of high yielding seeds along with instruction to upgrade their farming skills. The company has assisted in the construction of roads, installation of bio - gas plants and the digging of wells, all of which have helped improve the quality of life in these areas. The afforestation project has seen the planting of 3, 14, 000 trees around the Awarpur factory. The company has set up a bank of high quality fruit trees, and saplings are raised at the companys own nursery.

In Orissa, L&T has provided infrastructural support for educational institutions and irrigation facilities. The Adivasi youth have benefited from training in skilled trades and the future of this community in the Kansbahal region has been given a brighter outlook.

At the medical centres in the various locations, the company provides free medical aid and camps for family planning, health awareness and child immunisation are organised regularly.

Closer to home, the L&T Welfare Centre at Andheri in Mumbai offers comprehensive medical services. The centre has a panel of specialists in Pediatrics, opthalmics, gynaecology, orthopedics and psychiatry.

The company has also extended its support to the restoration of Art & heritage.

The Holy Name Cathedral in Colaba was built in 1905, and richly embellished with biblical figures and scenes on a background of what looks like frosted gold mosaic. These paintings were the work of an Italian Jesuit Brother, Antonio Moscheni. Time had taken its toll on the building and the paintings, and preservation and maintenance became a prime concern. The Indian Conservation Institute assessed the cost of restoration of the paintings at Rs 10 lakh, and would span a period of 10 months. A problem presented itself in the height that the restorer would have to work at.....reaching upto 52 feet. L&T with its excellent record in construction had the answer; Stagings are temporary structures used in construction to create platforms at required heights. The staging is a complete unit with all the components required to assemble the platform with ease. The platform provides a firm and safe area to work at high levels. L&T donated these systems to the Cathedral for the entire duration of the project.

At the Asiatic Society or the Asiatic Library as it is also known, there is a collection of over 30,000 books, some dating back to the 1840s.

The President of the Society is soliciting funds from various corporate groups to fund the restoration and maintenance of these books. L&T has promptly responded and adopted 500 books at a cost of Rs. 5 lakh. Under the adoption scheme, the Company will pay for the restoration and preservation of these books; some will be micro - filmed. Two micro- film copies will be made, one for lending to the members, and one as insurance against destruction.

Diabetes is a condition in which there is too much glucose (sugar)in the blood. Although sugar is needed to provide energy for the body, when present in excess it causes problems.

This disease has been termed a silent killer. Insulin is a substance produced by the pancreas and is required for sugar to enter the cells of the body where it is used to produce energy. Diabetics have excess sugar in their blood because they either lack, or have a deficient supply of insulin.