India CSR News Network
NEW DELHI: Spark Minda, Ashok Minda Group has set-up a new facility inside Aurangabad Central Prison, Maharashtra to manufacture automotive lock parts within the premises of jail. The activity initiated in collaboration with Aurangabad Central Prison Authority, Maharashtra and aims to impart skills and provide employment to women jail inmates of Aurangabad.
“The product thus manufactured (Lock Body Assembly Unit) will be used in the final product to be made in our company at Pune and will be supplied to our ‘Principal’ customer Bajaj Auto Limited (BAL). In this regard, an MOU was signed between Aurangabad Central Prison and Minda Corporation Ltd (Security Systems Division) on July 27, 2016.”, statement said.
Minda Corporation Limited (NSE: MINDACORP, BSE: 538962) is the flagship company of Spark Minda, Ashok Minda Group, which is one of the leading manufacturer of automotive components for the OEMs with Headquarter in India.
Minda Corporation Limited has been allocated 500 Sq. feet of space within the jail premises which can be amplified in future as and when the requirement arises. This area will be used for all the activities related to manufacturing, production, testing, inspection, storage of finished goods and dispatch.
Spark Minda, Ashok Minda Group investment at Aurangabad Central Prison includes machinery, raw material and other quality systems and procedures, and the facility will be run by jail convicts under the supervision of Minda Corporation Ltd., Security and System Division.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Security and Automotive Lock Division, Aurangabad Central Prison, DIG Prisons Central Region, Aurangabad Maharashtra, Rajendran Dhamle said, “It is an important day for Aurangabad Central Prison as this is the second jail in Maharashtra after Yerwada Jail in Pune which is associated with Spark Minda, Ashok Minda Group for uplifting and skilling of jail inmates.
Reformation and Rehabilitation of prisoners has always been our core focus area and we undertake various activities to develop skill sets of the inmates in different directions. This security and automotive lock division unit set up by Minda Corporation Limited, will go a long way in providing the perfect platform to enhance the skill sets of the inmates and enable them to earn their livelihood. I am thankful to the entire team of Spark Minda, Ashok Minda Group for taking up this noble cause.”
Speaking on the occasion, Sarika Minda, Chairperson, Spark Minda Foundation said “For bringing an inclusive and effective change in the society, it is imperative that every section and strata of the society has been taken care of. We, at Spark Minda, Ashok Minda Group have consciously decided to bring a positive change in the lives of jail inmates and the initiative in Aurangabad is our fourth such effort, after Dresden Jail, Germany in 2005, Tihar Jail in 2014, New Delhi and Yerwada Jail, Pune in 2015. The Aurangabad Jail authorities have been very cooperative and encouraging in providing the necessary approvals for the venture and we thank them for all their support. We hope that through our efforts, we are able to help the jail inmates, changing their outlook towards life and giving them a chance to live a respectable life”.
At the new facility in Aurangabad, Spark Minda, Ashok Minda Group will be conducting the induction training program for the jail inmates who will be working in the facility. Further, they will have to go through on-job trainings and will work under the supervision of Spark Minda, Ashok Minda Group representative for a given period of time. These training sessions will help inmates in understanding the minute details of production and manufacturing. With these trainings, inmates will be also given a special training certificate which will help them to work and earn outside the jail authority after their jail term ends.
To ensure the discipline of Jail, the raw material entry and the dispatch of finished product has been kept under the control of Spark Minda, Ashok Minda Group for smooth execution of work. To facilitate this entire process, few employees are fully deployed at the Jail; thus smoothing up the complete coordination and assuring Quality process. The management team will also visit this unit on a frequent basis to ensure the system & policy deployment in accordance with the company’s requirement.
Spark Minda, Ashok Minda Group has been involved in Community Development initiatives since decades. The CSR ventures of the Group were started by Late Shri S.L Minda, Founder – MINDA Group, under the umbrella of Moga Devi Minda Charitable Trust 1987. Minda Balgram- A child Home for Homeless; SL Minda Seva Kendra- Skill Training Center; Moga Devi Minda Memorial School- A School in village set up and SL Minda Sports Academy are some of the major initiatives under the trust.
In continuation to the legacy of a responsible corporate citizenship, the CSR activities being taken at the group are derived from the triple bottom line model of People, Planet and Profit. Ensuring environment sustainability with community care are the thematic divisions, surrounding which the CSR activities are planned and executed across the Group. Education; Vocational Training and Livelihood promotion; Health and Sanitation; Care for differently abled; Environment Sustainability and Women Empowerment are current broader head of intervention across the Group. To implement the CSR projects, Minda Corporation Limited has recently established Spark Minda Foundation as a 100% wholly owned subsidiary. Spark Minda Foundation is a company incorporated u/s 8 of the Companies Act 2013 and is a CSR wing of the Spark Minda, Ashok Minda Group.
(As received from Adfactors PR and IndiaCSR.in crosschecked with Spark Minda’s official statement and edited.)
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