IndiaCSR News Network
Dhenkanal : GMR Kamalanga Energy Limited, which is setting up a 1,400 coal-based thermal power plant at Kamalanga in Dhenkanal district, distributed TOMS shoes to 340 students of Kamalanga U.P and High school.
The company will distribute shoes a total of 1,400 children studying in 10 government schools and 16 Anganwadis in Mangalpur Panchayat.
The shoes distribution program launched at Kamalanga High School at Kamalanga village by Mr. Sushant Sahu, General Manager, Environment, Health & Safety (EHS), Mr. Satya Das, Manager, and Ms. Supriya Swain, Junior Manager, Human Resource, GKEL.
They spent some time with students and explained them about the benefits of using shoes.
The objective of the provisioning of shoe to children is to reduce skin infections, fungus growth and other infectious diseases linked to bare feet. The program is implemented in collaboration with reputed US based shoe company TOMS.
When TOMS sells a pair of shoes, a pair of shoes is given to an impoverished child, which is popularly known as “one for one” program of TOMS.
GMR Varalakshmi Foundation, a CSR arm of GMR Group has joined hands with TOMS, the US based one for one company, to give new shoes to under-privileged children studying in government schools and Anganwadis.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Dillip Kumar Kar, Program Leader, GMRVF said, “Providing good quality new shoes will incentivize rural children to attend school, help raise their self-esteem, and more importantly, reduce infections linked to bare feet. We are committed to health and hygiene of children and will provide shoes to children every year in Mangalpur Panchayat.”
