CSR News

3rd June 2024: Virtusa Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Virtusa Corporation, today announced the successful completion of the first phase of the 0.66-acre and 210-meter Alli Kulam Pond restoration project in Chennai. This initiative is part of Virtusa’s ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability and community engagement. Over the years, Virtusa has undertaken numerous lake restoration projects, which have benefited local communities by improving water quality, enhancing biodiversity, and creating recreational spaces.  The restoration project aimed to rejuvenate the Alli Kulam Pond ecosystem, enhance biodiversity, and provide a clean and safe habitat for wildlife and residents. This multi-stakeholder initiative, supported by Virtusa and involving United Way of Chennai and the United Way of Hyderabad at Agaramthen Panchayat – Alli Kulam, highlighted

3rd June 2024: A scholarship program has been introduced by well-known investment services company Geojit Financial Services Ltd. to assist worthy students from economically disadvantaged groups in their pursuit of career-oriented courses in a variety of subject areas. As part of this initiative, Geojit will provide selected students with up to Rs. 25,000 per year to help with tuition, exam fees, and other educational costs. Students who have finished X and XII with at least 80% of the possible points are eligible for the scholarship. To guarantee that the financial aid reaches the people who need it most, applicants’ annual family income cannot exceed Rs. 3 lakh. Commenting on the launch of the scholarship program, Geojit’s spokesperson said, “Financial constraints

Addressing the Extreme Weather Conditions as a Consequence of the Global Climate Crisis New Delhi, India – 31st May 2024: As India grapples with increasingly severe heatwaves, the nation’s most vulnerable population, its children, face significant health and developmental risks. Bal Raksha Bharat, a leading child rights organization, highlights the urgent need to address these extreme weather conditions, exacerbated by the global climate crisis. India has experienced unprecedented heatwaves this year, with temperatures touching 50°C in many regions of north India. These extreme heat conditions pose severe risks to children, including dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke. Moreover, prolonged exposure to such high temperatures can lead to long-term health issues, affecting children’s physical and cognitive development. “As we face unprecedented sweltering

May 29, 2024 — With limited irrigation facilities in India, many farmers are dependent on rainfall, leaving them vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Extreme weather events like droughts, floods, and storms affect soil fertility, crop yields and livestock production – all of which have led to reduced productivity and income for farmers. To improve water resource management and farming practices in India, a Rotary club-led initiative is making significant strides to help farmers improve their harvests, increase yields, and raise their incomes to help them enhance conditions for their families and create more resilient communities. Rotary members, experts and technical advisors will collaborate with local and national governments to strengthen farmers’ capacity at the community level in four

29th May 2024: Pinnacle Industries Limited, an integrated commercial vehicle seating & interior company, announced its additional state-of-the-art facility in Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh, expected to be operational by Q4-FY25. This facility will primarily focus on the production of advanced ambulances and railway seating systems, marking a significant expansion in Pinnacle Industries’ manufacturing capabilities and commitment to enhancing India’s transportation infrastructure. Going forward, the facility will also additionally support the company’s growing export business. The new Pithampur plant is being designed to be one of India’s very few sustainable and environmentally friendly manufacturing units. Pinnacle Industries Limited has integrated cutting-edge green technologies and practices to ensure minimal environmental impact. The facility will utilize renewable energy sources, incorporate water recycling systems, and

28th May 2024: Kotak Education Foundation (KEF) – the CSR implementing agency of Kotak Mahindra Group, announced 1,000 scholarships under the Kotak Junior Scholarship program to facilitate further education of meritorious Class 10th+ students from economically disadvantaged sections across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Along with financial aid of 73,500 over 21 months, this program offers each scholar a strong support system at the grassroots level for the future youth of the country. This program, spanning an initial term of 2 years for 10 + students from SSC, CBSE, and ICSE boards, involves robust engagement activities beyond financial support such as one-to-one mentoring, career guidance sessions, entrance exam preparation support, exposure visits, and home visits. KEF’s scholarship wing has been supporting

28 May 2024:  In the ongoing CSR program by Malabar Group, ‘Hunger Free World’ to provide nutritious meals daily to the needy, they will be expanding to cover more people and cities. At present, as many as 31,000 food packets are distributed under the ambitious program, which was initiated to support the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals 2 and Zero Hunger. As part of scaling up to 51,000 packets, they will now be distributed. The expansion of the plan was officially flagged off by Adv. P.S Sreedharan Pillai, Honorable Governor of Goa, at the World Hunger Day observance event held on May 28 at Malabar Headquarters (MHQ). M P Ahammed, Malabar Group chairman, presided over the function. P T A Rahim,

28th May 2024: Recent reports showed that there was about 35% loss in mangroves between 1996 and 2010, showcasing a concerning trend in environmental degradation. Mangrove ecosystems play a significant role in stabilizing coastlines, making their preservations of coastline, making their preservation a crucial, paramount global threat. They can sequester carbon at a rate five times greater than tropical forests. To respond to this urgent need, United Way Bengaluru (UWBe) has launched their aspiring and impactful campaign, called ‘Mangroves Matter’, to re-energize the mangrove ecosystem. The first foot is at Pulicat or Pazhaverkadu, which is a coastal town near Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Known as the ‘jungle of roots’ in Tamil, Pulicat encompasses a vast expanse of 720 sq. km, constituting

28th June 2024: With World Menstrual Day right around the corner, SOIE, a leading lingerie brand from Ginza Industries Ltd., in association with Kamakhya, a social enterprise dedicated to empowering women, hosted a menstrual hygiene educational event at its Surat Factory in Sachin. The event focused on raising awareness about menstrual hygiene and empowering women through informative and personalized sessions, along with the distribution of sustainable sanitary pads to a large chunk of their female workforce at the factory. The event featured informative sessions from Kamakhya’s experts, who provided valuable insights on menstrual hygiene and dispelled common myths, stigmas, and stereotypes surrounding menstruation. The informative session was followed by a Q&A segment, allowing women to engage directly with the experts.

27th May 2024: Despite the significant contributions of persons with disabilities (PwDs), they are often perceived as a burden by Indian corporations. Contrary to this misconception, PwDs have proven to be valuable assets in the workplace. This document explores the myths, challenges, and strategies for improving the employment scenario for PwDs in India. Myths and Misconceptions Employers often hold biases against PwDs, believing they are unable to perform job tasks effectively or are more prone to violence. These misconceptions lead to a reluctance to hire PwDs, fearing the costs of necessary accommodations and a non-conducive work environment. Contributions of PwDs Research indicates that PwDs exhibit better retention rates, higher productivity, lower absenteeism, and greater loyalty compared to their non-disabled peers. Companies like Trusted Hub in Singapore