Rural Infrastructure Development

PRESS RELEASE The Embassy of Israel in India collaborated with NGOs in different parts of India to help and support underprivileged communities during the Covid-19 pandemic. This collaboration was in the form of short-term social projects and was implemented across India. NGOs that were part of the first phase of this collaboration are Gulshan Foundation, Salaam Baalak Trust, Aarohan, Noida Deaf Society, Smile Foundation, Culture Monks and Navratan Foundation. Ambassador of Israel in India, H.E. Dr. Ron Malka said, “We are proud to partner with different NGOs across India to help and support underprivileged communities in different parts of the country during the Covid-19 pandemic. We are running this collaboration during the Jewish holiday of Hannukah, when we light candles for eight nights.  By

CSR NEWS Vedanta’s Flagship CSR Project NandGhar has rolled out its 1700th centre in Dharwad district in Karnataka today, thus moving closer to the vision of setting up 4000 NandGhars across India. Hon’ble Minister of Mines and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. Prahlad Joshi inaugurated the new centre at Dharwad, and handed over the 50 NandGhars developed in Dharwad to the community as part of ‘Vedanta Cares’, the CSR platform which focuses on enhancing the lives of local communities. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Prahlad Joshi, appreciated the efforts put in by the company and said, “I am pleased to see the community and industry leaders come together for a noble cause that focuses on the overall well-being of children and women. With NandGhar, a key component of holistic

PRESS RELEASE On the occasion of International Day of Rural Women, Okhai, established by Tata Chemicals Society for Rural Development (TCSRD) launches a helpline for rural artisans across the remotest part of India with a mission to encourage and empower them. This initiative is in line with this year’s theme – ‘Building rural women’s resilience in the wake of COVID-19 to create awareness of these women’s struggles, their needs, and the critical role they play in our society. While this pandemic has caused ripples across the globe, it has come upon most harshly on rural India and its artisans who would earn a daily income from supplying to retail stores before the crisis. The helpline has been launched with an aim

Indian Achievers’ Summit & CSR Conclave 2019 Oil India Ltd ,Noida Steel Authority of India Ltd GAIL (India) Ltd The Cotton Corporation of India Ltd Indraprastha Gas Ltd NALCO ( National Aluminium Company Limited ) State Bank of India Northern Coalfields Ltd Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd THDC (India LtdCentral Coafields Ltd) NSE Foundation BHEL ( Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited ) CNH Industrial CoromandeL International Ltd Tech Mahindra Epam Systems Martin & Harris Laboratories Ltd Walter Bushnell Laboratories Ltd The Mathrubhumi Printing &Publishing Co Ltd Hindalco Industries Ltd Amway India Enterprises Pvt Ltd IndusInd Bank Ltd FIAT India Automobiles Pvt Ltd Capgemini Technology Services India Ltd SRF Ltd (Shri Ram Fibres) Centum Foundation Adani Skill Development Centre Spark Minda

Away from existing practices and myths, organising Rural Conclave in Village Sholi of Himachal Pradesh and Launching of MISSION RIEV in IIRD Head office, Shimla has been an eye opening experience for every participant. Around 130 km away from Shimla city, conclave witnessed the participation of around 200 intellectuals from different walks of life from 30th September to 2nd October 2017 in a village illuminated by 350 solar street lights, part of initiative undertaken by IIRD, where inaugural ceremony was performed by octogenarian Shri Rami Nath ji, followed by Kavi Goshthi.  The ever shining Sholi village, known for its scenic beauty,experienced the city buzz with plethora of events for 3 days during the Rural Conclave besides playing host to the

PRESS RELEASE Nidhi Pundhir, Director, CSR Head, HCL Foundation The HCL Grant: Pan India Symposiums” is visiting 10 cities. The objective of the nationwide symposiums is to drive inclusive development models that are innovative, add equitable value and help NGOs gain better understanding on the CSR law and CSR. The second in the series was held on May 22, 2017, at Mumbai with eminent panelists such as Dr Bhaskar Chatterjee, former Director General & CEO, Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs; Dr Meena Galliara, Director, Centre for Sustainability Management and Social Entrepreneurship, NMIMS; Dr Hiren Desai and Mayuri Misra. The finale of first and second edition of HCL Grant in the year 2015 and 2016 witnessed the presence of President of

PRESS RELEASE Infosys Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Infosys, has partnered with Shivganga Samagra Gramvikas Parishad, a NGO working for development solutions of rural India, to work for the sustainable development of tribal villages of Jhabua- Alirajpur districts of Madhya Pradesh. The grant provided by The Foundation, aimed at benefitting 5,00,000 villagers over a period five years, will facilitate a planned, holistic development programme. Some of the intended milestones of the programme include running a skill development program to empower tribal youth, establishing a training centre at Dharampuri village, and creating awareness and training of village youths for prosperity through conservation and enrichment of natural resources. Technical training, establishment of village libraries and investments in energy solutions are some of

INITIATIVE According to the Census 2011, there are 2.68 crores (2.21%) persons with disabilities in India, though according to some estimates, the actual number may be as high as five per cent of our population. However, there has been a paradigm shift in the approach towards the persons with disabilities (PWDs) during last some years. The government’s focus now is on rights based economic empowerment of PWDs as we observe the International Day for Persons with Disabilities on 3rd of December this year. In India the first step in moving towards rights based economic empowerment was taken when Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act of 1995 came into being. The second was India’s ratification

INITIATIVE Simple ideas make lofty technology. Rural traditions of life and workmanship need a scientific revamp still maintaining its rural identity. The Ministry of Human Resource Development has been goading scientific transformation through Unnat Bharat Abhiyan. Rural Technology Action Group (RuTAG) is located in eight IITs and coordinated by the Office of the Principle Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Govt. of India. The National Innovation Foundation has also been giving fillip to innovative ideas at the inception level and has success stories appreciated worldwide. Drinking water often remains contaminated with microbes and particles.Who has thought of making a earthen pot subjected to a compression that minimizes its pores that let in contamination? A simple strategy with profound effect costing barely

OPINION Rapid agriculture growth and rapid rural employment growth were always the focus of India’s policy makers. Mahatma Gandhi envisaged India as a Nation of self-sufficient autonomous village republics. Land – the summum bonum of rural existence, and agricultural structure was the most important determinant of India’s development. Highly skewed distribution of land was responsible for agricultural backwardness. As land was the critical income generating asset of rural India, changes in agricultural holding structures were necessary to ensure prosperity of the rural population. Accordingly, India’s State policy focused on State Governments formulating and implementing Land Reforms legislations. These included the Land Ceiling Act, the Tenancy Act, the Land Revenue Act and broadly adopted the land to the tiller policy. Surplus