INDIACSR News Network
DHENKANAL: GMR Varalakshmi Foundation (GMRVF), the non-profit Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of the diversified infrastructure major, the GMR Group, today shared their several social initiatives in the area of education, health care, livelihoods and community development. GMRVF has been sincerely working to improve the standards of living in the region for the last three and half years.
Mr. K. V. V. Rao, Managing Director, GMR Kamalanga Energy Limited, said,“ Our endeavour is to make significant impact on sustainable human development of under-served communities across the country. In Odisha, GMRVF works for the benefit of rural communities neighbouring GMR Kamalanga Energy Limited (GKEL) with a mission to enhance the quality of life of people in Mangalpur Panchayat of Dhenkana district. GMRVF has undertaken CSR activities on a significant scale around the project site villages”. GKEL is setting up a 1,400 MW Coal-based Thermal Power plant at Kamalanga in Dhenkanal district.
GMRVF’s follows a four pronged community programme comprising of Education, Healthcare, Livelihood Empowerment and Community Development. In education GMRVF have taken special initiative like bearing the expenditure of 11 qualified teaching volunteers deployed in Government primary schools, setting up computer learning centres and creating an overall healthy environment for learning for children in the region. GMRVF has improved the healthcare scenario in the region drastically by setting up regular health camps and providing round the clock ambulance service. Besides, GMRVF has also brought tremendous change in livelihood empowerment and community development by providing technical support and subsidising backyard poultry, goat and fish farming, ground nut and vegetable cultivation and setting up community libraries.
Here are the Further information on each field:
Education: There has been a qualitative change in the educational scenario within the Mangalpur Panchayat area over the last two years. In order to have better quality of education, GMRVF has been bearing the expenditure of 11 qualified teaching volunteers deployed in Government primary schools. Two after-school Learning Centers operated by GMRVF at Kamalanga and Manpur villages have been spearheading quality improvement in high school education. Seven volunteers have been engaged in these two centers to provide after school learning support to 159 students. Under the computer literacy program, GMRVF is supporting two computer educators for conducting classes in secondary schools and computer aided learning centers.
This has benefited close to 120 students. Kid Smart Technology has been introduced in order to aid the learning centres for progressive learning. Primary and high schools are being provided with necessary infrastructure including sports material, library books and support for class room repair and renovation, furniture etc. Play equipments were installed in 7 schools for the use of children. Additionally, support has been provided to 10 schools to organize various curricular and extra-curricular activities to encourage learning among the students. Also, creative learning sessions, innovative science programs, summer and winter camps were organised for children within the Mangalpur Panchayat area. Toy libraries were established in all the 17 Anganwadi centres and utensils and uniforms were provided to 363 anganwadi children. A new scholarship program has been launched to support meritorious children of land loser families to pursue higher education specifically technical education.
GMRVF has established an English medium CBSE curriculum-based DAV Public School at Kamalanga Village, which will go full-fledged this year. This will contribute significantly to bringing quality education to the children of this area.
Health: In order to help the families and communities to attain optimal health status, specialized health camps were organized regularly in the villages. Women frequently report malnourishment and anemia during pregnancy and lactation.
Therefore, women have been targeted as special group of beneficiary and a comprehensive programme was developed for them which include specialized health camps, health awareness and information support. The Foundation has so far conducted 89 specialised heath camps for pregnant and lactating mothers, where 6524 cases have been examined and provided with treatment and medicines.
A total of 40 special health camps were conducted for senior citizens with 3,057 patients treated in the district. In three eye camps, 478 persons received spectacles and 93 cataract operations were performed. A total of 8 adolescent health camps were organized to address the health needs of adolescent girls. Around 734 young girls in the age group of 14-19 years attended these camps and did their health check-up. Health check up of the students organized in 7 schools. The health of 912 students was examined by the doctor, treatment provided for skin diseases, dental caries, worm infection and common illness. As part of the school health program, GMRVF conducted blood grouping and hemoglobin test for all primary school going students (910 students) of 9 project villages. The objective was to determine the prevalence of anemia among students and to raise awareness among their parents to prevent anemia. Awareness drives were conducted and anti-larval spray was undertaken in 9 villages to prevent dengue fever.
To prevent and control major causes of hearing impairment and deafness, GMRVF organized two Hearing Screening Camps and provided 43 hearing aids to the patients. Awareness drives and anti-larval spray was undertaken in the 9 villages to prevent dengue fever. Regular health and sanitation related awareness programs were organized in the villages and information disseminated on different health themes namely; reproductive health and child care, benefits of breast feeding, HIV/ AIDs prevention etc. Presently, GKEL provides round-the-clock ambulance service for local villagers. It is in the process of establishing a 30-bed specialty hospital near the GKEL plant site at Kamalanaga, which will be completely managed by CARE Hospitals, a well known healthcare group. GKEL has also equipped the Accident Care Centre at the Dhenkanal District Hospital last year.
GMRVF has been supporting the local community in Dhenkanal District to achieve economical sustainability.
Livelihoods & Empowerment: As part of special livelihood package and to create subsidiary self- employment for the villagers in general and SC, ST and OBC families in particular, a number of activities have been implemented. A total of 700 families have been provided inputs and technical support to start backyard poultry, duckery, goat and fish farming, ground nut and vegetable cultivation.
Mushroom cultivation has also been promoted among self Help Groups. Similarly, vocational training has been provided to 39 unemployed youths from land loser families on house wiring and mobile repairing.
A total of 113 women and girls learnt stitching garments in the 4 community based tailoring centers. Likewise, basic beautician course was offered to 80 women and girls. The process of formation and strengthening of Self Help Groups (SHGs) continued in 9 villages. A total of 75 SHGs were strengthened with nearly 800 women members participating in different programs.
Community Development: Six community libraries have been set up to inculcate reading habits among children and adults. GMRVF has provided furniture and books to the libraries. Monthly subscription of newspapers and periodicals has also been ensured by GMRVF.
These community libraries have nearly 1500 regular users from 9 project villages. Sports material and musical instruments were provided to 28 youth/cricket clubs and village Kirtaan mandalis. Support has been provided to repair and renovate 22 no of community infrastructures such as community centers, tube wells and open wells, common sitting place etc. A number of activities were organized on International women’s day, Maghasaptimi mela, international day of elderly person etc.
GMR Varalakshmi Foundation: GMR Varalakshmi Foundation (GMRVF) is the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of the GMR Group. Its mandate is to develop social infrastructure and enhance the quality of life of communities around the locations where the Group has a presence. The Foundation is a Section 25 (not-for-profit) company. It has its own professional staff drawn from top academic and social work institutions. It is governed by a Board chaired by Group Chairman, GMR Group.
GMR Infrastructure Limited: The Company is a Bangalore headquartered global infrastructure major with interests in Airports, Energy, Highways and Urban Infrastructure sectors. It has successfully employed the public-private partnership model to build a portfolio of high quality assets. The Company has 16 power generation assets of which 5 are operational and 11 are under various stages of implementation and 10 Road assets, of which 6 are operational and 4 are under construction. In the Airports sector, it has developed and commissioned the Greenfield International Airport at Hyderabad.
The Company, besides operating the existing Delhi International Airport, has also built a brand new integrated terminal T3 which was commissioned in time for the Commonwealth Games in October 2010. It has also upgraded and is operating the Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport and has recently acquired the Ibrahim Nasir International Airport, Male. GMR Group is also committed to social development initiatives and executes these through its Corporate Social Responsibility arm, the GMR Varalakshmi Foundation which is present in 22 locations.
