India CSR News Network
MUMBAI: Hinduja Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) wing of the 100-year-old plus Hinduja Group that works on sustainable rural development projects in rural Maharashtra.The Hinduja Foundation’s key activities over the last 60 years encompass Healthcare, Education, Sustainable Rural Development, Preservation and Promotion of Arts & Culture, and Social welfare.
The objective of the Hinduja Foundation’s Sustainable Rural Development Project, presently being run in Jawhar taluka, Palghar dist. of North Maharashtra, is to improve the quality of life of the beneficiaries through development of model villages. Enhancement of the livelihood of the participant communities through farm based interventions coupled with enhanced health and sanitation facilities, water resource management and upgraded educational facilities is the primary aim of the project. In concert with these initiatives training is being carried out for empowerment of women through self-help groups and setting up of peoples organisations.
Hinduja Foundation through its rural development project in Jawhar has touched the lives of 2008 families so far with a population of 11,172 individuals. In the second phase the Foundation has adopted 13 more villages. Ultimately, the Foundation intends to cover 6,000 families with an estimated 30,000 individuals under this programme.
Hinduja Foundation had initially identified 28 backward tribal villages in the tribal Jawhar belt by conducting a comprehensive Need Assessment Survey of which five villages with thirty hamlets were initially selected for the Rural Development Project. A report was thereafter prepared for undertaking comprehensive developmental activities in the area. The foundation has a PPP Agreement with the Additional Collector of Jawhar for smooth running of the project.
The outlay for the integrated developmental activities being conducted in Jawhar including sustainable rural development, healthcare and education is in the region of Rs. 29 crores. The Sustainable Rural Development project commenced in June 2015 with phase 2 of the program being completed by 2022.
