Anuradha Sehgal, CMO of Coforge Discusses Transforming Public Spaces into Hubs of Learning and Growth
In an exclusive interview with India CSR, Anuradha Sehgal, CMO of Coforge, delves into the vision and driving forces behind the Coforge Public Library. Spearheaded by CEO Sudhir Singh, this initiative aims to foster educational excellence and community development through accessible, world-class library facilities. As part of their CSR strategy, Coforge focuses on creating vibrant community spaces that promote intellectual growth and social cohesion, setting a new benchmark for corporate responsibility in education.
Edited excerpts:
Why Coforge has prioritized public libraries over other community initiatives?
Coforge is committed to the causes of Education and Environment as a part of its Corporate Social Responsibility program.
The idea of setting up world-class libraries in India came from Sudhir Singh, our CEO and Executive Director. Sudhir had experienced firsthand in the USA, the power of great public libraries to forge great minds, that then forged great communities, societies, and countries. He dreamed of seeing the same libraries in India, creating the same opportunities for Indians and India.
This unique initiative is expected to create a lasting impact in the community by offering free access to a world-class library facility to all.
At the inauguration ceremony, Sudhir Singh, CEO and Executive Director, Coforge, explained the motivation behind the project, “The Coforge Public Library is a testament to our commitment to enriching local ecosystems and empowering local communities. We hope this library will become a cherished space for intellectual growth and knowledge sharing amongst all, especially among school children and young adults in the community.”
What are Coforge’s expansion plans for its library initiative, and how do they aim to impact communities?
The library has been embraced by the local community as a much-loved, much-cherished space. From kids to middle school students, students preparing for competitive exams, elderly citizens are regular visitors to the library. They ask us how they may contribute, offering their time and expertise to anything that the library may need.
We are determined to create many more beautiful Coforge Libraries. On the top of our list are cities like Gurgaon, Pune and Hyderabad.
In what ways does Coforge’s library differentiate itself from other similar initiatives?
The Coforge Public Library is spread over an area of 12000 sq ft. and boasts a collection of over 10,000 books, 3.5 crore titles available online, and 200 books in Braille. Inspired by the principles of equal access and lifelong learning, the library has a vibrant, contemporary design incorporating concepts of inclusivity, accessibility, and sustainability. It has a separate children’s section designed to encourage creative thinking, reading, and storytelling.
Could you outline the steps Coforge has taken to ensure its library is inclusive and accessible to all community members?
A lot of thinking and planning has gone into the choice of books, and the design of the space that invites readers to sit and read. The library is accessible to all with wide aisles and bookshelves of low height. There is a specially designed children’s zone to encourage children to read and interact with books.It has a separate children’s section designed to encourage creative thinking, reading, and storytelling.The library hosts events with local NGOs to introduce children from all economic strata to the world of books.
What are your investment plans or strategies for CSR endeavours, particularly in the context of its library initiative?
We plan to expand the Coforge Public Library across other cities in India. We will add more books to the existing Coforge Public Library and make it 20000 books in the next few months.
Alongside the Coforge Public Library, the CSR function sustains its ongoing projects working with NGOs, and educational institutions for community upliftment, and development like the Wheelchair Fitment Program: Empowering Mobility with NGO partner, Margadarshi Society in Bangalore, supporting entrepreneurship training for marginalized women and education of adolescent children through our Pune-based NGO partner, Centre for Youth Development and Activities (CYDA), engagements with NGO partner Vidya & Child in Greater Noida and plantation drives across the NCR region.
Recently Coforge took the initiative to create a mini biodiversity park in Sector 108, Noida. The Noida Authority had identified 10 acres of land in sector 108 as a Green Belt. However, the land started being used as a garbage dumping site. Coforge in association with NGO partner SAFE (Social Action for Forest and Environment) worked with the Noida authorities to conceptualize the mini biodiversity park, clean the garbage, clear the soil, and make it ready for plantation. Over 600 volunteers from Coforge offices in Greater Noida and Gurgaon came together to plant over 3000 saplings of Peepal, Mango, Bargad, Amla, Mahua, Amaltas, Molshree, and Jamun- species known for their ecological significance as well as for their cultural and aesthetic value.
(India CSR)
