Standard Chartered CSR Work Supports Water Security, Healthcare, Livelihoods And Climate Resilience In Maharashtra
MUMBAI (India CSR): Standard Chartered Bank, a banking and financial services company, has said that its CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) and social initiatives in Maharashtra have benefited more than 8.3 lakh citizens over the past seven years through water security, healthcare, employment generation and climate resilience programmes.
According to the media statement, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the initiatives have contributed to development efforts in the state. The programmes have been implemented across 30 districts of Maharashtra, including 75 per cent of the state’s aspirational districts.
Public-Private Effort
Fadnavis said joint efforts by the state government and the private sector are helping development benefits reach underprivileged sections of society.
He said Standard Chartered Bank’s work in water conservation, rural development, women’s empowerment and healthcare is aligned with the state’s development goals. More than 52 per cent of the beneficiaries of the bank’s social initiatives are women, with focus on water conservation, healthcare and livelihood enhancement.
Water Security
The bank said its water security initiatives have created freshwater storage capacity of 1.06 billion litres. It has also set up 45 Water ATMs in drought-prone areas.
The programme has strengthened water security in 271 villages across Maharashtra, including villages in Marathwada and Vidarbha. More than 8,000 farmers have received support through water conservation measures and climate-resilient agricultural technologies.
The initiative also includes the plantation of 7 lakh trees as part of climate resilience efforts.
Livelihood Support
Under the employability programme, 6,598 youth have received skill development and employment training. The bank said 63 per cent of them have secured jobs.
Employment opportunities were created in sectors such as electric vehicles, automobiles, artificial intelligence, electronics, banking and entrepreneurship. The average annual income of beneficiaries has been recorded at Rs 1.66 lakh.
Women constitute 61 per cent of beneficiaries under this programme. The initiative has also supported rural women entrepreneurs through financial assistance. In addition, 758 women micro-entrepreneurs have received support.
Healthcare Access
Under the bank’s flagship “Seeing is Believing” programme, 4,39,688 citizens have undergone eye examinations. The programme has also supported 38,625 eye surgeries.
A total of 49 Vision Centres have been established across Maharashtra. The bank said these centres are operating on a self-sustaining basis and together generate annual income of around Rs 1.6 crore.
The programme has also been expanded through convergence with government schemes such as the District Blindness Control Society and Ayushman Bharat.
Social Commitment
Karuna Bhatia, Head of Sustainability, India, Standard Chartered, said the bank remains committed to improving the quality of life of underserved and marginalized communities.
She said the bank’s initiatives in Maharashtra in the areas of water security, healthcare and employment are examples of its long-term social commitment, the company said.
Fadnavis said the initiatives have brought positive change in the lives of citizens across the state and are supporting sustainable development, women’s empowerment and social inclusion.
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