NEW DELHI: Spark Minda (Ashok Minda Group), leading manufacturers of automotive components, has released its Annual Corporate Responsibility Report for the year 2017-18.
Group implements its social projects under Spark Minda Foundation (SMF) and Moga Devi Minda Charitable Trust. Spark Minda Foundation has focused its CSR work in a number of key areas, each of which helps to tackle social challenges through innovation, transformation and leadership.
The report highlights the Spark Minda’s commitment to the communities, addressing the sustainable development goals (SDGs). “This year we continued to invest in inclusive growth and build capacity at over 20 projects location across the country in systematic and strategic manner.”, Praveen Karn, Head Group CSR, Spark Minda Group said.
“Our Program for Person with Disability are making many lives sustainable and skilful. In a designed framework person with disability are trained, developed and employed across the Group Companies. We try to give the practical skill sets, which will help them for rest of their lives with dignity. Also, to ensure their mobility we have provided accessible and assistive technology to 3735 people till FY 17-18. This year we have also established Empowerment Center for Divyang’s in Maharashtra, which is aimed to provide disability certificates and organise job fairs for PWDs other than the above-mentioned activities.”, he said.
He further said, “Through our Aakarshan Vocational Skill Development Program, we reiterated our focus on quality education and skill development for Children, Youth and Women. Our education programs in different locations of the country are able to mainstream children and help them in formal system of education and also empower youth and women. This year we touched 1331 lives through this program. Over the years, many program graduates have gone on to become gainfully employed, while others have even started their own businesses. This year is no different and we even aspire better.”
Empowering women is one of the crucial objectives of Spark Minda CSR policy. It is said that women are the pillars of world economy. Several women empowerment initiatives have been undertaken across areas of our operation. These initiatives aim to improve literacy as well as provide training to enhance livelihood generation opportunities for them.
This year, through Industrial Tailoring Program it has achieved a 100% women placement record in Apparel Industry i.e. of 165 women. It also has successfully conducted training on Menstrual Hygiene, Family Planning & Reproductive Health for female, which is much neglected issue of the society.
“Through this program we were able to benefit around 2290 women and adolescents. Our commitment to reach 3000 women by FY 2020 through this program is also registered in United Nations.”, report reveled.
Spark Minda Healthcare Programs are able to improve health status of the people living around the factories. This year, more than 16000 people were given health awareness and preventive and curative health care through medical and specialized camps nearby Aakarshan Vocational Training Centers. Looking at the need of community, this year company organized a special Eye check-up camp where approx. 3500 people were benefitted.
“Our business integrated CSR initiatives in the prisons of India have started from Tihar and then replicated to Yerwada, Aurangabad and Nagpur Central Prison. This initiative has set another milestone in the Industry and has given a win-win model to the automotive and CSR fraternity.”, report said.
“Keeping in mind the pressing issues of resource scarcity particularly water and energy in India, our efforts towards environmental sustainability continued this year with a focus on electricity saving, water conservation and solar energy generation. By installing solar panels at CSR centers, we feel proud to announce that now our Aakarshan Vocational training centers are totally solar operated.”, it added further.
Under our community infrastructure program, this year we constructed toilets, installed solar panels and constructed classrooms in Govt. Schools of our intervention areas. With these constructions, we were able to benefit approximately 3000 students.
“With this year Annual Report, we look forward to an even more fruitful year for the initiative and a positive outlook in terms of new initiatives.”, company said.
Download: CSR Annual Report of Spark Minda, Ashok Minda Group FY 17-18
