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  • Amway India’s disinfection drive covers 1.30 lakh sq ft area so far

    Amway India’s disinfection drive covers 1.30 lakh sq ft area so far

    Direct selling FMCG firm Amway India has so far conducted sanitization and disinfection drive in the premises of 12 NGO partners across India, nine Anganwadi centers in Delhi, 15 villages in Dindigul district in Tamil Nadu

    Direct selling FMCG firm Amway India has so far conducted sanitization and disinfection drive in the premises of 12 NGO partners across India, nine Anganwadi centers in Delhi, 15 villages in Dindigul district in Tamil Nadu.

    The drive covered an approximate area of 1,30,000 square feet benefiting the lives of more than 3000 less-privileged children and adults, the company said in a statement.

    In Delhi, the sanitization drive was done at nine Anganwadi centrs in North-West Delhi’s Kirari Suleman Nagar covering 5,000 sq.ft. area of their premises under Amway’s Power of Five campaign.

    Commenting on the initiatives, Gursharan Cheema, Senior Vice President, North and South, Amway India said: “Amway India has always been committed to supporting the community by coming forward in the face of adversity. These testing times are not just a trial of our strength and resilience, but also an opportunity for us to demonstrate the might of collective effort.”

    During the unprecedented lock-down period, Amway India had stepped up its efforts by supporting its NGO partners in their initiatives towards training, education, skill development and assessments of the beneficiaries through various digital tools to ensure consistency in their learning and development.

    Amway facilitated MAMTA-Health Institute for Mother and Child and conducted bulk message service to spread awareness, counter myths and misconceptions among the community members of the project area. Over 10,000 beneficiaries are receiving the health and nutrition related advice every week.

    The company also has identified and trained over 170 individuals from the targeted community called ‘Poshan Mitras’ who are sustaining the program on-ground. They are playing a critical role in sensitizing and educating the community.

    MAMTA Executive Director Sunil Mehra said, “With this support we could integrate hygiene and sanitation along with addressing malnutrition in the intervention area – these two are the most evident determinants of COVID-19.”

    Amway India also contributed Rs 2.36 crores towards the PM CARES FUND, Tamil Nadu CM’s public relief fund, Kerala, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh CM’s public relief funds and support for government’s on-ground health and sanitation services.

    Additionally, the funds also provided Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as gloves, gowns, shoe covers, head covers, masks, respirators, and eye protection gear to public health service workers through the company’s NGO partners.

    Further as part of the fight against COVID-19, Amway India also developed ‘Personal Hand Sanitizer Gel’ to support the frontline workers, it added.

  • Central Bank of India donates 1,000 raincoats to Maha Police

    Central Bank of India donates 1,000 raincoats to Maha Police

    Central Bank of India today said it has in collaboration with Bajaj Allianz General Insurance donated 1,000 raincoats to the Maharashtra Police to protect from monsoon rains. In a statement, Central Bank of India Managing Director and CEO

    Central Bank of India today said it has in collaboration with Bajaj Allianz General Insurance donated 1,000 raincoats to the Maharashtra Police to protect from monsoon rains.

    In a statement, Central Bank of India Managing Director and CEO Pallav Mohapatra said the small contribution is an attempt to express gratitude to the “unwavering hard work of the Maharashtra police”.

    Bajaj Allianze General Insurance Head (Bancassurance) Alpana Singh lauded efforts of the police department during the COVID-19. “We are with them and will be there to support in any manner possible.”

    Thanking the two companies for goodwill gesture, Mumbai Deputy Commissioner of Police Sangramsinh Nishandar said the raincoats will be a great aid in keeping the force dry as they follow out there duties through the rain riddled season.

    “Central Bank of India has always been a great supporter to the Maharashtra Police Department and we look forward to strengthening bonds in the future as well,” he said.

  • Timely support for mkt access helped 14 FPOs in Andhra offset COVID-19 impact

    Timely support for mkt access helped 14 FPOs in Andhra offset COVID-19 impact

    About 17,500 farmers of 14 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) in three districts of Andhra Pradesh could sail through the COVID-19 crisis and find new buyers for their produce because of the timely support for market access, according to non-profit body TechnoServe India

    About 17,500 farmers of 14 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) in three districts of Andhra Pradesh could sail through the COVID-19 crisis and find new buyers for their produce because of the timely support for market access, according to non-profit body TechnoServe India.

    Gradually, the 14 FPOs — located in Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts and engaged in turmeric coffee, cashew, black pepper, coconut and pineapple farming — were able to turn the ongoing COVID-19 crisis into an opportunity and scaled up operations, it said.

    TechnoServe India has been working with 17,500 farmers under the Sustainable Livelihoods for Smallholder Farmers programme with the support of Walmart Foundation.

    “COVID-19 has presented many challenges for small farmers from disrupted and shorter supply chains, to communications breakdowns, and a scarcity of available services. The need for timely and accurate information and secure market channels is paramount to support farmer livelihoods,” Walmart Foundation Spokesperson Sherry-Lee Singh said.

    The Foundation works with partner NGOs in India with an aim to improve farmers’ incomes and promote sustainable farm practices. During the COVID-19 crisis, the Foundation is extending support to the NGO partners to help with necessary interventions to sustain farmer livelihoods in this challenging time, he said.

    TechnoServe and the FPOs are supporting the farmers during this period not only to help them secure their market access and sustain their livelihoods but also to rapidly learn, adapt and make adjustments in support of future resilience,he added.

    “Supply chain saw huge disruptions amid the pandemic, which broke down the conventional linkages on which the producers relied to access markets. However, this presented as an opportunity to build the capacity of community embedded resources for FPOs,” TechnoServe India Country Director Punit Gupta said.

    During the COVID-19 lockdown, TechnoServe continued to support farmers by shifting their operating model to digital means and formalising existing digital systems of support. Timely support was provided to ensure liquidity and incomes during the crisis, he said.

    “…We explored linkages with buyers in local markets within the state as well as other states to market produce of varying qualities. Post this, we helped finalise terms of trade as well as assist the FPOs with quality control and in raising purchase orders from different buyers,” he noted.

    Through on-ground presence of TechnoServe’s resources and 24/7 virtual guidance, Gupta said the FPOs not only strengthened their own operations but also filled the procurement gap.

    To help smallholder farmers navigate through the COVID-19 impact, TechnoServe facilitated fortnightly virtual board meetings to continue the training and encourage social distancing measures, he said.

    It also disseminated market price information for cashew farmers via WhatsApp groups to ensure greater transparency and reduce information asymmetries besides introducing post-harvest management support on drying, sorting and processing for cashew and turmeric farmers through community-embedded resource people.

    The NGO also supported FPOs and farmers market linkages for crops like turmeric, black pepper and cashew during the lockdown to prevent farmers from distressed sale. It also supported the FPOs in securing working capital loans from various financial institutions.

    “We also assisted individuals to find labour work in farm fields to ensure they have some revenue source, amid the crisis. For example, individuals engaged in polishing, sorting and grading the turmeric were able to earn daily wages in the absence of other regular work activities,” Gupta said.

    That apart, all training programmes for farmers were shifted to online and trainers visited individual farmers, on request, in nearby villages to provide guidance when the lockdown was relaxed. Farmers were also encouraged to grow organic kitchen gardens to meet their food needs.

    As a result, Gupta said, “They (FPOs) successfully sailed through the COVID-19 crisis and scaled up their operations.”

    TechnoServe is now working towards enhancing the usage of digital tools as well as other farm technologies to support FPOs and make the entire process more transparent and efficient, he added.
    Source: Agency

  • India testing 3 corona vaccines; awaiting nod from scientists for large-scale production: PM

    India testing 3 corona vaccines; awaiting nod from scientists for large-scale production: PM

    Addressing the nation from ramparts of Red Fort on 74th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said three corona vaccines are in various stages of trial in India and a large-scale production will begin after getting nod from scientists

    Addressing the nation from ramparts of Red Fort on 74th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said three corona vaccines are in various stages of trial in India and a large-scale production will begin after getting nod from scientists.

    The roadmap to bring corona vaccine to all Indians in shortest possible time is also ready, he said and hailed ‘corona warriors’.

    “Everyone has one question, when will corona vaccine be ready? This question is there in the hearts of everyone across the world. But I want to tell you, our scientists are working hard like ‘rishi muni’ (saints) in the labs ,” Modi said.

    “In India, not one or two but three vaccines are in various stages of trial. Large scale production will begin after getting approval from our scientists. The preparation for this is fully ready,” he said.

    The Prime Minister also said a roadmap to bring corona vaccine to all Indians in shortest possible time is also ready.

    “We are going through a unique situation because of coronavirus pandemic. ..We will achieve victory over coronavirus with resolve of people of country,” he added.

    India’s COVID-19 caseload surpassed 24 lakh on August 14 after 64,553 more people tested positive and the recoveries rose to over 17 lakh, according to the Health Ministry.

  • CG Foundation distributes 10,000 ‘Wai Wai’ food packets to flood hit people in Assam

    CG Foundation distributes 10,000 ‘Wai Wai’ food packets to flood hit people in Assam

    CG Foundation India, the CSR arm of CG Corp Global, today said it has distributed 10,000 ‘WAI WAI’ food packets to flood-hit 2,000 underprivileged families stranded in relief camps in Upper Assam. The incessant rainfall in Assam has created

    CG Foundation India, the CSR arm of CG Corp Global, today said it has distributed 10,000 ‘WAI WAI’ food packets to flood-hit 2,000 underprivileged families stranded in relief camps in Upper Assam.

    The incessant rainfall in Assam has created a grim situation in the state with painful displacement and impact on humans and wildlife. The rising water level has severely affected the Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts as the villagers have been evacuated to relief camps, it said.

    “CG Foundation India is extending its disaster response by providing WAI WAI food packets which is pre-cooked food to multiple relief camps. …In addition to the 10,000 WAI WAI packets being provided, we are determined to continue to collaborate to provide relief in all possible ways to the impacted state,” CG Corp Global Executive Director Varun Chaudhary said in a statement.

    The foundation has partnered with CII Young Indians and Round Table India who have helped identify the worst hit areas and reach the camps for food distribution, he added.

    The volunteers spearheading the distribution are regularly interacting with the affected people in Assam and prioritizing those requiring immediate support.

    Varun Jain, Chair, CII-Young Indians, Delhi Chapter stated, “Covid19 had already made 2020 a challenging year and the situation has now been massively exacerbated by extreme weather events and it is particularly impacting those, who are at the bottom of the pyramid. In these times, we are thankful to the leadership of CG Corp Global for coming forward, to provide support and relief.”

    Nitin Agarwal, Area Chairman, Area 14, Round Table India, said, “The condition in upper Assam, especially in areas near Tinsukia and Dibrugarh is very grim due to floods.”

    CG Foundation India, set up this year, is the regional extension of ‘Chaudhary Foundation’ which is the veteran CSR arm of Nepal-based CG Corp Global that manufactures WAI WAI instant noodles.

  • LG Electronics to donate Rs 1cr to Armed Forces Flag Day fund

    LG Electronics to donate Rs 1cr to Armed Forces Flag Day fund

    Ahead of Independence Day celebrations, LG Electronics India today announced a donation of Rs 1 crore to Armed Forces Flag Day Fund (AFFDF) for the welfare of war widows and disabled servicemen. The company, in a statement, said the fund will be

    Ahead of Independence Day celebrations, LG Electronics India today announced a donation of Rs 1 crore to Armed Forces Flag Day Fund (AFFDF) for the welfare of war widows and disabled servicemen.

    The company, in a statement, said the fund will be contributed as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative ‘Kar Salaam’ that was started three years ago to salute the soldiers’ spirit of generous contribution and service towards the nation.

    Under this initiative, LG Electronics will donate 1 crore to Armed Forces Flag Day Fund (AFFDF) under the Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB) Secretariat, it said.

    AFFDF is dedicated towards welfare of war widows, children of martyr’s, war disabled soldiers and ex-servicemen.

    Commenting on the initiative, LG Electronics India Managing Director Young Lak Kim said: “Through this initiative, we at LG Electronics pledge to stand in gratitude with the Indian Armed Forces for assuring a fearless and safe life for us, while protecting our borders.

    “By contributing to Armed Forces Flag Day fund, we contribute towards the welfare of the dependents of our brave martyrs and their families. This is a small step on behalf of LG Electronics, this Independence Day, saluting the brave armed forces of India.”

    KSB Officiating Secretary Captain (IN) Rakesh Shukla said, “We are thankful to brands like LG Electronics for extending this generous support. Every effort counts and we would urge more corporates to come forward and join the cause.”

  • BBG Foundation donates face masks & hand sanitizer in 45 villages

    BBG Foundation donates face masks & hand sanitizer in 45 villages

    Hyderabad-based BBG Foundation, a CSR arm of south India’s land developer Building Blocks Group (BBG), today said it has donated face masks and hand sanitizer to vulnerable people in 45 villages

    Hyderabad-based BBG Foundation, a CSR arm of south India’s land developer Building Blocks Group (BBG), today said it has donated face masks and hand sanitizer to vulnerable people in 45 villages.

    As many people lost their jobs during the COVID-19 lockdown, the Foundation has also created livelihood to Self Help Groups (SHG) in the villages by ordering masks, it said in a statement.

    For instance, the Foundation was able to ensure remuneration of about Rs 15,000 to each members of Sri Anjaneyam Self Help Group (SHG) belonging to Sri Sai Village Organization (VO) that was engaged in stitching masks.

    Sanitizer was also provided to all Anganwadi Centers. ANM sub-centers too were provided with the sanitizer bottles by the foundation.

    BBG Managing Director and the Foundation Chairman Mallikarjun Reddy said that the company believes in adding value and giving back to the society. “We presume contributing to society is an extension of our core practices,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the Foundation has collaborated with ANM, ASHA workers and Anganwadi teachers to help people during the COVID-19.

  • Vodafone India Foundation launches digital literacy portal for marginalised communities

    Vodafone India Foundation launches digital literacy portal for marginalised communities

    Vodafone India Foundation, the CSR arm of mobile service provider Vodafone Idea, today launched a portal ‘Digisakshar.org’ to help marginalised communities become digital literate and self-reliant. The portal, which has ben developed

    Vodafone India Foundation, the CSR arm of mobile service provider Vodafone Idea, today launched a portal ‘Digisakshar.org’ to help marginalised communities become digital literate and self-reliant.

    The portal, which has ben developed in partnership with IT and business consulting services firm CGI and NASSCOM Foundation, was launched at a virtual event.

    In addition to offering digital literacy to communities, Vodafone India Foundation said that the self-learning portal also drives them towards better job and entrepreneurship opportunities helping them become self-reliant.

    The web platform curates personalized content from different sources in Hindi and English and will soon also be available in Kannada, Oriya and Marathi.

    The free to use portal provides over 40 courses in both Hindi and English, designed for all age groups and curated to cover basic, intermediate and advanced knowledge on digital skills, it said in a statement.

    The courses range from basics of computer operations, handling mobile phones, using internet securely, digital payments, finding jobs and livelihood opportunities, accessing common and government websites and many more.

    Vodafone India Foundation launches digital literacy portal for marginalised communities

    According to Vodafone India Foundation, NASSCOM Foundation has program managed the creation of the portal, while the CGI will be developing self-learning content in multiple languages to augment the digital skills curriculum.

    Commenting on the intiative, Vodafone Idea Ltd Chief Regulatory and Corporate Affairs Officer P Balaji said the company has transformative initiatives in the domains of agriculture, education, health, women empowerment which are positively impacting millions of Indians every year.

    “Today, as part of our commitment to increase digital literacy and help communities learn digital skills, I am delighted to announce launch of Digisakshar – which I am sure will contribute to a resilient and skilled India,” he said.

    NASSCOM Foundation CEO Ashok Pamidi said, “With digital literacy through physical centres taking a huge hit due to the current crisis, Digisakshar hopes to provide a safe online learning environment for Digital Novices to learn new skills.”

    CGI Asia Pacific Global Delivery Centers of Excellence President George Mattackal, CSC e-Governance Services India CEO Dinesh Tyagi, and National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) Head Learning Resources and Technology Preet Arora were among others present at the launch.

  • Reliance Foundation to partner W-GDP, USAID to bridge gender digital divide in India

    Reliance Foundation to partner W-GDP, USAID to bridge gender digital divide in India

    Reliance Foundation, the CSR arm of Reliance Industries Ltd, today said it has forged a new partnership with US Agency for International Development and W-GDP to bridge the gender digital divide in India. The partnership was announced

    Reliance Foundation, the CSR arm of Reliance Industries Ltd, today said it has forged a new partnership with US Agency for International Development and W-GDP to bridge the gender digital divide in India.

    The partnership was announced at a Women’s Global Development and Prosperity (W-GDP) event hosted by Deputy Secretary of State of the United States Stephen Biegun and with special guest, Ivanka Trump, Advisor to the President of the United States, and Deputy USAID Administrator Bonnie Glick, it said in a statement.

    Ivanka Trump said that the W-GDP Fund was created to source and scale the most innovative programmes to advance women’s economic empowerment.

    “We are leveraging the resources and expertise of the US government and the private sector so that activities have enduring, deep effects on the communities they reach,” she said.

    Whereas USAID Acting Administrator John Barsa said, “Global prosperity will remain out of reach if we exclude half the population. At the US Agency for International Development (USAID), we believe investment in women is key to unlocking human potential on a transformational scale.”

    The W-GDP Fund at USAID is financing innovative solutions to close the economic gap between women and men and help our partners advance on their Journeys to Self-Reliance, he said.

    At the event, through a virtual video message, Nita M Ambani, Founder and Chairperson, Reliance Foundation, said, “I am delighted and proud to announce that Reliance Foundation is joining forces with W-GDP, through our partnership with USAID. Together, we shall launch the W-GDP WomenConnect Challenge across India, in the fall of 2020. At the heart of this partnership, is our shared goal to help bridge both the gender divide and the digital divide in India.”

    The W-GDP Women’s Connect Challenge (WCC) supports private sector-led approaches that close the gender digital divide, expands business opportunities, and empowers women. As part of programme, W-GDP will partner with the Reliance Foundation to create an India-specific expression of the WCC and incorporate the lessons of previous W-GDP WCC Rounds.

    This year Reliance Foundation is celebrating its 10th anniversary, and over the last decade has impacted the lives of 36 million Indians.

    “Together, Jio and Reliance Foundation will make a tremendous contribution to the W-GDP Initiative in India to help bridge the gender digital divide,” the statement added.

    In February 2019, the White House established the Women’s Global Development and Prosperity (W-GDP) Initiative, the first whole-of-government approach to women’s economic empowerment.

    W-GDP seeks to reach 50 million women in the developing world by 2025 by focusing on three pillars of women prospering in the workforce, women succeeding as entrepreneurs, and women enabled in the economy.

    In its first year alone, W-GDP programs reached 12 million women across the globe. It leverages a new innovative fund, scaling private-public partnerships that address the three pillars.

  • Usha Int’l & SIDBI to set up 700 Usha Silai Schools in 3 states

    Usha Int’l & SIDBI to set up 700 Usha Silai Schools in 3 states

    Consumer durables major Usha International and Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) today announced setting up of 700 Usha Silai schools in aspirational districts and calamity prone areas of Himachal Pradesh

    Consumer durables major Usha International and Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) today announced setting up of 700 Usha Silai schools in aspirational districts and calamity prone areas of Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand in the phase II of its flagship initiative ‘Mission Swavalamban’.

    Under the Phase I of the initiative, 1000 Usha Swavalamban Silai Schools were set up in five states – Bihar, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Telangana. 200 schools were up and running in each state in 2019, it said.

    “We are sure these 700 new Silai Schools in the Government of India shortlisted aspirational districts/ calamity affected areas will go a long way in making a real impact by training thousands of people, improving their lives and the lives of their families,” Usha International CEO Dinesh Chhabra said in a statement.

    These schools will pave the way for a better tomorrow by developing rural women as entrepreneurs in their own right, and an earning power that helps them meet their aspirations. It underscores the company’s commitment to skill people in order to create a more equitable world, he said.

    The objective of these school is to skill rural women in sewing and stitching to financially empower them and make them ‘homepreneurs, it added.

    SIDBI Chairman and Managing Director Mohammad Mustafa, said, “In 2nd phase besides tailoring skills, we shall impart exposure on entrepreneurship and life skills. This aligns with our Mission Swavalamban which intends to spread entrepreneurship culture, family being the focal point.”

    The bank will continue to leverage partnership for including the excluded as also serving the unserved. “We firmly believe that strengthening villages through enterprise enabler steps is important for national mission of Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” he added.

    In Usha Silai Schools, the training will be imparted on various aspects of stitching along with maintenance and repairing of sewing machine by expert trainers of Usha International in these Silai Schools.

    The women entrepreneurs successfully completing the training program will be provided with Usha Sewing machine (leg paddle driven), a certificate, a training-kit, and a Usha Swavalamban Silai School Signage board, the company added.

    The Silai School program, initiated in 2011, is a pan India community based rural initiative of Usha International Ltd. This social initiative is aimed at empowering women from marginalized sections of the communities residing in the remote hamlets, habitations and villages of India.

    Presently, there are 23,000 Silai Schools across India, 100 in Nepal and 20 in Sri Lanka and 3 production centers in Bhutan.