Infosys to Distribute High Efficiency Cook Stove to 21500 families in Koppal, Karnataka

IndiaCSR News Network

KOPPAL (Karnataka): Infosys today launched its biomass cook stove project in Yelburga Taluk of Koppal district in Karnataka. Under the program, Infosys will distribute 43,000 high efficiency cook stoves to 21,500 families over the next nine months. Biomass cookstove is basically a combustion device which burns biomass fuel more efficiently with reduced emissions and offers cleaner cooking energy solutions. In the context of concerns over health, climate change and energy security, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy through a Special Project on Cookstove (SPC) during 2009-10.

Infosys will also support these families in maintaining the stoves to ensure continued and effective use of them for several years. The project will be implemented with the help of Samuha, an NGO with strong local presence, who will undertake long term community initiatives to train locals and build awareness among the families about the use of the stoves and its benefits.

The program was inaugurated by Suman Sasmal, Vice President and Service Offering Head – Insurance, Healthcare & Life Sciences and Development Center Head, Infosys, at a function in Hirewonkalkunta by distributing the first batch of stoves to the local families. Basavaraj Rayareddy, Yelburga MLA and chief guest, applauded Infosys for undertaking the project and said that the project will make a real difference in the lives of thousands of families in Yelburga. The event was also attended by the president of the local panchayat, and Samuha representatives.

According to the Ministry of Statistics, a whopping 67% of Indian rural household depends on traditional cooking using firewood. Nearly a million deaths a year in India are attributed to household air pollution from cooking. Low smoke and high efficiency cook stoves not only address the household air pollution problem, but also significantly reduce the drudgery of firewood gathering. The program helps reduce environmental degradation caused by firewood harvesting and contributes to climate change mitigation by reducing the CO2 emissions.

Infosys is a global leader in sustainable development and became the first Indian company to join the global RE100 campaign. As part of its commitment to RE100, Infosys aims to become carbon neutral by 2018.The company is also working towards reducing its per capita electricity consumption by 50 percent from its 2007-2008 levels and source all its electricity from renewable resources by 2018.

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Infosys is a global leader in sustainable development and became the first Indian company to join the global RE100 campaign. Aiming to become carbon neutral by 2018, the company is also working towards reducing its per capita electricity consumption by 50 per cent from its 2007-2008 levels and source all its electricity from renewable resources by 2018.

Photo Credit: http://www.sustainia.me

Contact Detail of Samuha

SAMUHA, Vittalapura Road, Kanakagiri – 583283, Gangavathi Taluk, Koppal District, Karnataka, India
, E: desk@samuha.org, ramasatish70@gmail.com
M: +91-9986390976