GMR Infrastructure Ltd.
Sales (2007-2008) = Rs. 220 crores (rounded off)
Net profit after tax = Rs. 70 crores (rounded off)
CSR Budget= All subsidiary companies contribute 5% of the PAT (information from e-mail by Beena Sivan-Project officer)
Karmayog 2008 CSR Rating: 3/ 5
CSR activities:
Highlights
�€€€€€€€ Locations of operation: 16 locations across 11 states
�€€€€€€€ Educational institutions run
Engineering College: 1
Degree College: 1
Schools: 4
- Educational scholarships/support
School level: 368 students
Higher/professional education: Over 100
�€€€€€€€ Government school outreach
Schools being partnered: 75
Students impacted: Over 14,000
�€€€€€€€ Pre-schools
Own Balwadis : 63
Partnering Anganwadis: 18
Children impacted: Over 1600
�€€€€€€€ Health
Ambulances run: 3. Average cases per month: 30
Mobile medical units: 3. Cases per week: 3000
Community toilets built and operated: 15. Average users per day: 4000
School health check up annual average coverage: Over 2000
�€€€€€€€ Livelihoods
Number of training institutes for unemployed youth: 6
Number of trainees per year: About 3000
Settlement rate: Over 75%
Number of SHGs: 75
Recognition
The Orbis Award for Corporate Social Responsibility was given to the GMR Varalakshmi Foundation during the 14th World Routes Conference, held in Kualalumpur. The foundation was announced winner for the laudable community work being carried out at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad.
New Initiatives
Vocational Training
The Foundation has started 2 more new training institutes in Hyderabad and Kakinada to train the youth. The centers are set up with the aim to enable the youth to take up jobs/ self-employment initiatives and enhance their quality of life.
Marketing Support to SHGs
The Foundation has initiated 2 marketing outlets to help women SHG members to sell their products. One is at Badrinath, during the season, specifically aimed at supporting the SHGs in the surrounding areas in Uttarakhand. The other is in the International departure area of the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad, to support products by SHGs in Andhra Pradesh. This is being run in partnership with Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty, Andhra Pradesh.
Tent schools in Bangalore
There are a number of migrant laborers in Bangalore. The big challenge for school enrolment programme here is to get children from the migratory population into schools.
GMRVF is collaborating with the Education department of the Government of Karnataka and has adopted 5 tent schools. Children are given basic education and are provided with recreational facilities.
MoU with government to run Anganvadi
In a move to join hands with the government, the GMRVF has signed MoU with the department of ICDS, Governemnts of Tamilnadu and Andhra Pradesh, to run 14 Anganwadis in collaboration to improve the status of children of pre-school age, Adolescent girls and the pregnant and lactating mothers in the poor socio economic category.
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.
GMRVF runs educational institutions with the aim of bringing quality education to the under-
served areas and sections of the community.
Currently the Foundation is involved in the following educational institutions:
GMR Institute of Technology (GMRIT)
Bhavans� Varalakshmi Vidyashram (BVV)
Seethamahalakshmi DAV School (SMLDAV)
Foundation also facilitates scholarships and educational loans to ensure that deserving students, irrespective of their financial backgrounds, have access to these institutions
Health
GMRVF, in collaboration with HelpAge India, is running 3 Mobile Medical Units dedicated to taking healthcare to the doorsteps of the elderly. The units provide free medical checks and medicines to those over 60 years of age. These medical units cover over 90 villages visiting each of them every week. Over 4500 elderly people benefit from this initiative
The Foundation also runs ambulances in remote areas. For people in these areas it is very difficult to reach health centres and hospitals quickly. Each of these ambulances attends to about 30-40 emergency cases every month, and has saved many a life.
General and specific medical camps are conducted in all the Foundation�s work areas. GMRVF stresses on school health check-ups and health education in schools and communities.
The Foundation also runs regular clinics for identified communities which do not have qualified doctors. At Lambagarh, in Uttarakhand, it runs a weekly clinic. In the remote villages of Hyderabad where trained and qualified doctors are not available the GMRVF runs weekly clinics. The Foundation runs both Allopathic and Ayurvedic clinics in Mangalore.
The Foundation has also initiated Health awareness on AIDS including on the communities it works with.
The Foundation has built and is maintaining 8 public toilets in villages and slums. These clean and hygienic toilets are made available to families of the communities for a nominal fee of Rs. 10 per family per month. These toilets have improved the sanitary condition in the areas and are of great help especially to the women of these communities.
In a Public-Private Partnership with the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad, the Foundation is building and operating �Pay and Use� toilets in the city. These facilities, in the short time that they have been in operation, have won recognition for setting new standards in the maintenance of public conveniences. Thorough research and professional design inputs have gone into the making of these toilets. Regular monitoring and inspections help in maintaining high hygiene and health standards.
The Foundation also imparts education on sanitation and personal hygiene to the communities.
Livelihood Training Institutes
The Foundation has set up and is running several institutes of Entrepreneurship Development. Three of these are in partnership with Andhra Bank, and two are being run independently.
These Institutes train unemployed youth in a variety of skills like plumbing, tailoring, two-wheeler repairs, photography and videography. Great emphasis is also laid on developing their entrepreneurial spirit by strengthening confidence and motivation levels, improving communication skills etc. The Foundation goes beyond training by facilitating bank loans for those who want to set up micro-enterprises, and engaging with potential employers for placements. About 2000 young people are trained every year, and the settlement rate is upwards of 75 percent. The Foundation extends handholding support to trainees for two years after the training, to ensure that they are able to build on their training
Self Help Groups
The Foundation is currently facilitating 80 SHGs through motivation, training, workshops etc. These SHGs have managed to raise loan of upwards of Rs. 20 lakh and are engaged in a variety of income generation activities that has contributed to family income.
Community Development
Urban Programmes –
GMRVF works with poor urban communities in several places. All programmes in these places begin with a thorough study and analysis of the problems of the communities. Subsequently, the Foundation works closely with the community to overcome these hurdles. For instance, in the case of Medaras or basket weavers of Rajam, it was found that multiple issues impeded development of the community. Alcoholism was draining the family income and inaccessibility to reasonable loans to purchase raw materials was leading them into debt traps. The Foundation�s solutions like counseling for de-addiction, provision of interest-free loans and formation of Self Help Groups have brought about a change for the better in the community.
Rural Programmes –
The Foundation works in over 50 villages aiming to promote Participatory Rural Development and to strengthen village communities and their institutions. The efforts include creating health awareness, facilitating training for members of local institutions, initiating and working with youth clubs, developing village libraries, working with SHGs, afforestation etc.
Rehabilitation Programmes:
Illegal encroachments in the Delhi Airport land were cleared in end 2006. The community has been given land by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi at Safda Ghevra JJ Colony. The Foundation has been working with the community since early 2007 to help them in the process of resettlement.
The interventions include: (1) short term measures like provision of water to meet daily needs, facilitation of transport for children to attend examinations in their schools in the airport vicinity, mosquito-fogging, organisation of health camps, programmes for group building and goal setting, etc. (2) long term measures like skill training of youth for employment; improving the quality of education through the establishment of pre-schools, tuition centres, provision of scholarships, etc; formation of women Self Help Groups and exploring home-based work options; opening a clinic, etc; and (3) facilitation of service provision including working with the authorities to expedite creation of quality infrastructure including water, sewage, street lighting, etc.
Source: www.gmrgroup.co.in/branchindex.aspx?branchid=23
www.gmrgroup.co.in/Investors/pdf/annual%20report%202007-08.pdf (�07- �08 pg 25)
Contact Information:
GMR Infrastructure Ltd
GMR Group, IBC Knowledge Park
Phase 2, “D” Block
9th Floor, 4/1, Bannerghatta Road
Bangalore – 560 029
Karnataka, India
Phone no. : 80 40432000
Fax : 80 40432180
E-mail : info@gmrgroup.in
Website : www.gmrgroup.co.in
Industry Sector: Diversified
Products / Services: Construction of Airports, Highways
Other locations of factories / offices: Regional offices in Uttarakhand, Chandigarh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh
Previous year�s CSR activities & rating:
www.karmayog.org/csr500companies/csr500companies_7798.htm
________________________________________________________
Additional Information by the company
Information from email by Beena Sivan-Project Officer
Director�s Office
GMR Varalakshmi Foundation
ANNUAL REPORT
Educational Institutes
GMRIT
During the year, five departments of GMR Institute of Technology (GMRIT) viz. Chemical, ECE, EEE, IT and Mechanical, were accredited for three years by National Board of Accreditation, AICTE, New Delhi.
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and IE (I) accredited the Campus to build up a long term industry institute interaction and it was listed among the Premier Institutions by Infosys. GMRIT is also a part of Campus Connect, an academic initiative of Infosys.
There were 2147 students in the college. Students of GMRIT have bagged 2 gold medals and 65 top ranks among the top 100 department-wise ranking of JNTU for 2006.
Under Faculty development programs, Five National Level Two Day workshops were conducted by various Departments. Faculty members of various departments presented 31 technical papers at National & International conferences, published Journals at National & International Level and also published two books.
GMRIT was also successful in placing 300 numbers from the outgoing batch of 2007. Some of the new companies that visited the campus were Honeywell Automation, Keane India, Essar Steel India, Medha Servo Drives, Genting Lanco, Athena Info Consulting, Soma Enterprises, Vasant Chemicals to name a few.
M.Tech in EEE and MCA was started during the year with 18 and 60 seats respectively. There was an increase in intake of 30 seats each in ECE, IT & Chemical Engineering.
Dr. JJ Irani, Director, M/S Tata Sons visited the campus and addressed the Faculty and Final Year students.
To create additional space for I year and PG Courses, Academic Block V, Ground and First floor was constructed.
100% admission was achieved in all courses.
Sri GCSR Degree College
College Strength:
BA � 79, B. Com � 193, B. Sc � 504, Intermediate � 92, B.Ed � 100; Total – 968
During the year, 10 training programs were conducted for the faculty and 4 student development programs were conducted.61 students of the 2006-07 batch were placed in various organizations.
26 Intermediate students were awarded an amount of Rs. 60.000/- scholarship from GMRVF. 94 under graduate students were awarded an amount of Rs. 1,25,750/- scholarship from GMRVF.
245 NCC & NSS students and 15 staff members participated in Sankranti Cloth Distribution Program organized by GMRVF.
55 Boy and 16 Girl Cadets participated in 14 (A) Bn. NCC cadre camp conducted on the campus.
The NSS student volunteers participated in various welfare programs organized by the Community Service Wing of GMRVF as well as by the State Government.
The students of SGCSR participated in various Inter-district sports competitions and won many prizes.
To provide additional coaching in spoken English a �Zero� hour study was introduced besides regular working hours to improve the students communication skills.
All Saturday afternoons are devoted to various co-curricular activities like competitions in elocutions, essay writing, group discussions, seminars and quiz to make the students further employable.
Guest lectures on various subjects were organized. A highlight among them was the legal literacy awareness camp organized by the Senior Civil Judge of Rajam.
Staff of Lawson Outsourcing Center, Chennai addressed the students and staff on BPOs.
With the support of GMRVF the college provided free coaching to attempt Common Proficiency Test (PT) to 17 past and present commerce students.
Various dignitaries and Ministers visited the college.
An Inspection team of Andhra University School of Distance Education visited the college to grant Study Center at the campus.
Order of recognition was received from NCTE, Bangalore to start B.Ed College
Proposal for New Intermediate Vocational Courses was submitted to Board of Intermediate Education, Hyderabad.
Proposal has been submitted to start Dr. BR Ambedkar Open University Study Center at the campus.
Bhavans� Varalakshmi Vidyashram
School strength � 737
Class X details: Students appeared � 23, First Division � 21, Second Division � 2
The students participated in various competitions and received prizes.
6 teachers participated in a workshop on �Time Management� conducted by GMRVF.
A Unit of Bharat Scouts & Guides was inaugurated and the Zonal Commissioner addressed the students on the occasion.
A seminar on �Energy Saving� was conducted for classes V to X by CBSE at Bhubaneshwar.
The school team stood second in the Inter school Quiz competition conducted by LIC of India.
77 students from Class VI to IX participated in an induction camp for Scouts & Guides. They received training from the Commissioner of Scouts & Guides.
25 students participated in a 5 day yoga camp.
232 students participated in the All India General Knowledge Examination conducted for Class III to IX.
40 students participated in the 18 km Cycling Trip conducted by the Adventure Club.
The Group Chairman, Mr. GM. Rao and Mr. AM Naik, Managing Director & Chairman of L&T visited the school.
Seethamahalakshmi DAV Public School
School strength: 352
The school hosted the Srikakulam District science Exhibition for 3 days. Over 300 schools of the District participated in the Exhibition. SMLDAV won the first position in the Middle School category and was selected for the State Level Competition. The Science Exhibition was sponsored by GMRVF.
The school was affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi as a Secondary School.
Foundation coaching classes for IIT, BITSAT & Medical Courses was introduced. They would be conducted for students of Class VIII and above on Sundays and holidays.
Extra hour coaching started in the evening for weaker students.
An elocution competition on Non-conventional Energy and Environment was conducted by Akshay Urja Club of GMRIT, Rajam for Class V to VIII students.
A workshop for teachers was organized by DAV Directorate, Hyderabad and conducted by Education and Technology Services, Hyderabad. The subject of the workshop was �Adding Dimensions�. 18 teachers and Principal participated in the workshop.
GMR Chinmaya Vidyalaya
The school building is under construction and is nearing completion at Shamshabad, Hyderabad. The school will start in academic year 2008.
Community Services
An Overview of Activities, Location-wise.
AP II, III Road Projects
GMRVF has adopted four Govt. Schools in key villages close to the proposed Toll Plazas, to improve the educational status of the schools It has appointed four Vidya Volunteer support has been provided in the schools. It has started two tuition centres by recruiting five teachers. It has initiated one Balabadi at the Labour camp for AP III roads project near Nandigram in which more than 20 children are enrolled. The Foundation has also provided drinking water facility to Z.P.H. School, Manoharabad (A.P. II). It has procured sports material in two Govt. Schools. It has also sponsored National festivals (Aug.15th etc) at Govt. Schools. To encourage the habit of reading among the public, it has initiated a Library at Dandupalli (A.P. II). Apart from all these, it has procured Science Lab Material in three Schools to encourage the children to take interest in Science subject. It has also organized School health check-ups at Manoharabad covering around 150 children. Five Referral cases were sent to Princess Darrushewar children super speciality hospital for further treatment. It has conducted two Road Safety awareness camps and 5 environment awareness camps for around 400 children.at Govt. Schools.
The Foundation organized five medical camps at labour camps and around 450 people were benefitted in the camps.
GMRVF has conducted six HIV & AIDS and Road Safety awareness camps at various dhabhas. Also conducted three HIV & AIDS awareness camps at Labour Camps. It has also created awareness on Road safety for the auto drivers.
The Foundation has organized four Youth registration melas at various villages for the educated and unemployed youth for enrolling them in vocational training programmes. It has sent four eligible youth for RAXA Security who has been employed.
Arunachal
The community service activities were initiated in four village communities belonging to the catchment areas of the Talong hydro power project, East Kemang , Arunachal Pradesh . All the families in these villages belong to the Nishi-Nishing tribe. People live in raised platforms made of wood and bamboos, and mostly depend on Jhoom farming and forest.
Foundation has identified and appointed an educated field staff belonging to the local tribe to initiate rapport building measures with the community. Considerable progress have been made in establishing rapport with the tribal village community and ensuring their participation in community initiatives.
The community has been involved in developing future plan(08-09) for the area and ensured participation in activities. In view of the prevailing extreme poverty and vulnerability of people in the area, basic welfare services for education and health support have been initiated .Two schools in the area have been adopted on the basis of informal understanding with the Panchayat . GMRV Foundation has taken up the repairing of dilapidated school and hostel structure in Londa village with the participation of the parents and youths.
Based on consultation with the parents and youth, the Foundation is preparing to take up activities such as setting up school libraries, support for meals for hostel children, developing youth clubs and SHGs, setting up a Bal Badi , establishing health clinic, etc
Bangalore
GMRV Foundation initiated direct community work in Bangalore from December 2006. First area selected for intervention is a slum named Indira Priyadarshini Colony on Bannerghatta Road. The Foundation also wroks with several organziations in the areas of education, self employment, health, old age home, handicapped and abandoned persons etc through various charitable organizations.
A Bala Badi has been started in the slum in February 2007 which follows the model developed by GMRVF. There are about 20 children who are regular in the Bala Badi. These centres not only provide joyful learning to 3-5 year old children but also inculcate good habits in them. Efforts are made to develop the innate abilities of the children through activities like songs, games etc. A nutritious snack is also provided to children in these centres. To strengthen the Bala Badi activities, mothers meetings are organised. Bala Badi centre has become the hub of community activities like health check-ups, awareness sessions and story telling sessions.
Regular after-school tuitions were organized in the slum to support the school students in their education. 30 children attended these regularly.
Medical camps for Bala Badi children and community women are being organised regularily. Awareness sessions on basic health care and hygiene are organized as a follow-up measure. A significant activity was the renovation of the public toilet in the slum. About 70% of the community members are dependent on the public toilet which has been in a bad condition. With the support of the community, GMRVF has completed the renovation of the toilet.
Foundation has successfully organized a six months long tailoring training program for 17 women from the slum. Also, a youth group has been formed and efforts are on to provide them driving training and spoken English training.
A government school has been adopted in Bangalore and services like additional teacher, tuition program for children who are weak in studies and library books have been provided. The school toilets have been renovated, thus enabling about 400 children to use the facility. The staff of GMR also participates in varied activities like story telling sessions, organizing health camps and important day celebrations in the communities.
Going forward, the focus of Foundation work in Bangalore would be on working with the construction labour communities in Bangalore. Already, the education department has agreed to collaborate with us in running five non-formal education centers for the laborers children
Chennai
In Chennai, GMRVF works with World Vision, to improve the quality of life of the residents of Gandhijinagar, a slum next to the Power Plant.
2 Day Care Centers with 66 children, Night School with an attendance of 230 children and Spoken English Classes with an attendance of 25 girls are on going programs related to education.
In the area of health, regular health check-ups, health awareness sessions, health camps and de-addiction awareness were organized.
Children�s clubs, adolescent girls clubs and mother�s clubs are run through which education and awareness on a number of issues are given.
A number of women�s self-help groups are facilitated, through which women are encouraged to save and take up income-generation activities.
Delhi
In Delhi the GMR Varalakshmi Foundation is working with the communities neighbouring the domestic airport in Mehramnagar, and in Savda Ghevra, the resettlement colony where some 1000 families were rehabilitated.
In Mehramnagar neighbouring the domestic airport, tuition for Mathematics and English are conducted for children in classes VIII-X. The aim is to help them improve learning level and prepare well for the board examinations. Recreational activities such as debate, extempore, indoor games, quiz etc. are also conducted from time to time to bring out their innate talents. Total number of the children benefited during the period is 25. Painting classes are conducted every Sunday for children interested in taking hobby classes. Competitions are organised for.
In Savda Ghevra resettlement colony, the overall level of education is very low and children generally drop out after Class VIII. Foundation facilitated the admission of the re-located children in the local government school. In order to strengthen the educational base, tuition classes are conducted for children in classes I-V. These classes help in laying a strong foundation for the children as to enable them to grasp concepts from the beginning and perform well in school. 115 children benefited from the tuition classes.
One Balbadi is running in Savda Ghevra resettlement colony for the age group of 3-5 years. 54 children attend this and also provided with nutritious food to contribute to the overall healthy development of child. The child�s progress is shared with their parents in the monthly parent teacher meeting.
A community library was set up in Mehramnagar area. Library has books ranging from fiction to competitive books to books on home tips etc catering to all sections of the community. Besides books newspapers and magazines are also subscribed. The fiction and comic books were an instant hit with the children. Students preparing for different entrance examinations also visit the library for completion referral books. The library attracts about 15 users a day.
In an effort to provide medical facility to the resident of the resettlement colony, a weekly medical dispensary was organized in Savda Ghevra resettlement colony and free medicines were distributed to the ailing patients. 800 people benefitted during the year.
Specialized and general health check up camps were organised for the communities from time to time. Some 300 people came for their health check in two of the camps organised in Mehramnagar.
In order to provide a permanent solution to the community to meet the water scarcity problem in Savda Ghevra four hand pumps were installed in each of the four blocks in the colony.
Women in the community around the airport are timid and do not move out of their homes.. With an aim to instil confidence in them tailoring centre was set up in collaboration with the USHA international. A six month certificate course in conducted for the ladies and a certificate is issued after completion of the course. To date eleven women have successfully completed their course and further 12 women will be taking the exam. From the first batch, three women are employed in the garment manufacturing factories and one operates from home.
A beautician training centre was set up in Mehramnagar to help women and girls acquire beautician skills which help them in starting their own enterprise after completion of course or get employed in some parlours. The duration of the course is one year and efforts are on to explore employment opportunities for them after completion of the course.
A English speaking course was started in Mehramnagar to help girls acquire working knowledge of English. Besides it will help them face interviews confidently. The duration of the course is three months and there is a growing demand for starting another batch.
4 youth from the re-settlement colony have been sponsored for a one-year Electrical Diploma.
Through support of Corporate Relations, DIAL, liaison and follow-up was done to expedite provision of basic services like water, street lighting, opening of school etc., in Re-settlement Colony.
Chandigarh
In Chandigarh the GMR Varalakshmi Foundation began its intervention in October 2007 in a government high school in a village Dappar- located along the expressway NH21 and 22 from Ambala to Chandigarh being developed by GMR group.
With a view to help children score better in mathematics tuition classes were started in the school. Towards facilitating overall development of the students, extra curricular activities conducted jointly with govt. schools. Besides this some special days were also celebrated with the children. On Children�s Day cultural programmes, sports events etc were organised..
A hand pump was installed in the Dappar high school and is being used by the students. A kitchen shed and compound wall were also constructed. Discussions were held with the principal of the school to improve the class room conditions and school facilities to provide better learning environment to the children.
A health check up camp was organised in Dappar for the adolescent girls. A lady doctor was called to the same to enable the girls to speak openly about their ailments who otherwise hesitate to discuss their health related issues. Medicines were also distributed as per doctors� prescription. Another health check up camp was organised for girls in senior secondary school located in the Expressway stretch. A large number of girls were found to be anaemic and free tonics and medicines were distributed.
In order to create awareness on HIV /AIDS a rally was organised with the initiatives of the GMRVF . Students of classes VIII-X participated in the rally along with their teachers. This rally attracted the attention of the villagers and served the purpose of awareness generation on the issue. Many villagers came out of their houses to see the rally.
Haliyal
The Foundation commenced its developmental interventions in Haliyal in July 2007 after the initiation of GMR Sugar factory project there. The Foundation staff with the support GMR Sugar Industry team conducted a situational analysis of the area.
Based on the survey it was decided to initiate the work in 6 villages in two district of Uttar Kannada.
As an entry point program various competitions were held for students as a rapport building process with the with about 150 children participating. Saplings of different species were planted on August 15th by the students around the High School at Galagi Hulikoppa village. The students have taken up the responsibility of taking care of these saplings, class wise on rotational basis. Evening tuitions centers are operational at three villages. More than 250 children are benefiting from these centers. Three additional teachers are working at the Pala, and Ammakoppa Govt High schools with support of GMRVF. Apart from supplementing the normal teaching process in the school, these teachers also manage tuition classes for students with weak learning skills. An enrolment campaign was organized in Agadi village.
A Balabadi is operational at Agadi village catering to 20 children in the age groups of 3-5 years.
Community libraries are operational in Pala, Ammankoppa, Mudsali villages and caters to the community members� .More than 250 people are getting benefitted from this library.
An eye check-up camp was organized on 19th August in Belvantra village. Around 245 patients from Belvantra and nearby six villages attended this camp. Subsequently medicines were distributed for 150 patients at Belvantra village and spectacles for 119 patients. Free cataract operations for 20 patients were organized.
In collaboration with NSS students a cleanliness campaign was organised in Pala and Mudsali village which had active participation from the village communities making it grand success and they have developed mechanism to maintain the cleanliness.
Women�s Day was celebrated on March 08 with the objective of mainstreaming the gender concerns in all the programs that GMRVF works on.
35 SHG members attended training on liquid soap and phenyl making at Agadi village. The SHG members are marketing their products in the local markets and Tibetan settlements.
Job placement was organized for the unemployed youth of Haliyal area in collaboration with ISS � Facility Services Bangalore. In total 30 youth ranging from degree holders to 10th standard pass attended the interview. 18 got selected for various jobs at the Bangalore.
Three youths from Belvanthra village have been identified and placed with RUDSET to undergo vocational training on mobile, TV and electrician jobs for a period of one month free of cost.
Two tailoring centers are operation at Agadi, and Ammankoppa village. Forty Adolescent girls are attending the classes in two batches i.e. morning and evening. The tailoring students of Agadi village as part of their training have stitched uniforms for our balwadi children .These uniforms were distributed free of cost by the village head to the children. Apart from learning vocational skills, sessions are regularly organized on life skill education.
Hyderabad
GMRVF has adopted four govt. schools in four villages close to the Airport. A MoU has been signed with Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, Ranga Reddy District for bettering the education in the selected govt. schools. To improve the quality of education, some of the activities such as After-school tuitions for the 7th, 9th and 10th class students, Health check-up for anganwadi and school children, distribution of School Uniforms to all children of anganwadis and school, Infrastructure support by providing benches, play equipments, toilets, classroom spaces, etc., appointment of Vidya Volunteers, conducting Special Events like Children�s Day, Republic Day, etc. to motivate children and generate interest in education, including competitions, special events etc., organizing a summer camp with a fun-n-learn concept with exposure visits, film shows, arts and craft, etc. were undertaken.
GMRVF signed an MoU in September �07 with ICDS Dept, GoI for adopting 6 govt. anganwadis in the neighbouring villages to provide needed support. GMRVF has started four bala-badis (pre-schools) where there is no existing govt. anganwadis, catering to about 50 children. A Capacity-building workshop has also been conducted for both govt. anganwadi and GMRVF balabadi teachers on the methods and approaches for learning for smaller children.
Community Libraries are being run at 4 villages to serve as centers of knowledge and information dissemination.
A Mobile Medical Unit (MMU) has been initiated since April 2005 for providing free medical aid and advice to the 60+ age group people in around 20 villages and more than 800 beneficiaries attend every week in and around the Shamshabad area. Weekly medical clinics have been started at all the 4 villages for the general community. A Supplementary Nutrition Centre for Pregnant and Lactating Women has been started at Airport Colony since Aug 2007. About 20 women are taking benefit of this facility. Medical camps are organized at regular intervals, including camps on chickengunya, diabetes, B.P. eye camps, etc. Free cataract surgeries and spectacles have been facilitated.
GMRVF had provided free vocational training to over 200 rural unemployed youth from the target villages presently at GMRV – CEL at Hyderabad. The center offers courses such as Electrical House wiring and Appliances Repair, Computer hardware and networking, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning, Computer MS Office and DTP, Basic Electronics and Mobile Phone Repair, etc. These are basically 2-3 month long courses and about 75% placement has been achieved for the courses run till now.
The Foundation has been running three ladies tailoring classes since 2007. All these centers are being run at spaces provided by the Panchayat bodies. More than 100 women have already been trained at these centers, while an equal number are getting trained currently. Efforts are on to facilitate a micro-enterprise for the trained women. A �Beautician� course was started at Shamshabad at the MDO office in June 2007. The Mahila Samakhya has given a hall at the MDO office for this training purpose. Over 50 girls from more than 8 villages have passed out.
The construction of building for GMRV-Centre for Empowerment and Livelihoods is nearing completion and will be inaugurated early in the next financial year.
Kamalanga, Orissa
GMRVF is working in the surrounding communities of the Thermal Power Project at Kamalanga, Orissa, in order to initiate welfare activities.
As an entry point, various government departments have been met. Some activities have been initiated with the schools including some competitions, rallies and other events.
The Foundation is in the process of developing a work book from class I to class 5, mainly for Math, Science and English. A Balwadi manual has also been developed for Balwadi instructors and primary teachers for better understanding on lesson planning, child psychology and classroom behavior.
Discussions were held with the Chief District Medical Officer (Angul), on the issues pertaining to health status, infrastructure, and health camps. The Foundation has become a member of Dhenkanal Rogi Kalyan Samiti which would enable to participate in health administration meetings. An ambulance service has been commissioned with an objective to help the poor and the needy in case of emergency. A mega health camp has also been organized in several places that catered to approximately 750 people. A poster based ambulance was integrated to enable the local populace to better understand the facilities offered. A manual has been developed in Oriya for awareness among people about their diseases/health problems and their precautions.
Mangalore
The Foundation works in Thannir Bavi village, which is situated in the vicinity of the Group�s powe rplant, from 1999 onwards.
Six Anganwadis with 181 children, are being supported by the Foundation through augmenting the staff salary, providing slates, uniforms and play materials for children
17 children have been adopted under �Gifted Children Scheme��. These children are supported through their entire academic period, right from kindergarten to professional education. More than 90 deserving and poor college students have been provided a scholarship of Rs. 1000/- a year, to pursue their college studies
Midday meals are being supplied in two unaided schools, that cater to nearly 230 children. Books and uniforms are being provided to the identified 1040 students from poor families at the government schools . Children are also provided free computer training courses. This facility has been extended to children of AIDS victims at Kaup, Udupi district as well.
The Foundation organizes a 10-day summer camp for Government school children. The children participate in several extra-curricular activities like cultural programmes etc. Around 80 children from Std. VI to Std X take part in these camps each year.
Free allopathic/ayurvedic clinics are operating at Tanir Bavi. On an average 15 patients are treated every day at these clinics.
Health Awareness Camps for SHG members are conducted once in every six months. Apart from this, several other camps such as, dental check ups, eye camps, blood donation, and regular awareness on malaria, chickungunya etc. are organized for people of different age-groups in to the community. HIV/AIDS awareness camps have been organized at Thannir Bavi and surrounding villages targeting people of different age groups in the community.
Foundation currently facilitates 40 Self Help Groups (SHGs) with a total strength of 607 members at Mangalore. The SHGs include 37 women groups and 3 men groups. Two of these groups have been formed at Freedom Foundation, Muloor, Udupi District exclusively for the AIDS patients. The range of products and services the SHG members do business includes: petty shops, vegetable business,masala powder, food items, catering service, fishing related trade,piggery,poultry,tailoring,beedi rolling etc .
Further, all the 40 SHGS together formed a people�s organization at the taluk level, called Mahashakti okkuta (women�s federation). This federation acts as an apex body to all the SHGs in the project area. It also acts as a pressure group to mobilise and implement government programmes effectively through solidarity.
The Foundation appointed LIC as a �micro-insurance agent� for insuring the SHG members named Janashree Bima Yojana�.An amount of Rs.100/- is the premium for each member. Out of that 30% is contributed by the community. 66 children of SHG members are being paid Rs.1200/- per year as scholarship for four years under LIC�s Shiksha Sahayog Yojana. Three SHG members of Tanir Bavi have availed death benefits from LIC of India for Rs. 20000/- each due to the death of their husbands under Janashree Bima Yojana.
Rajahmundry
GMR Varalakshmi Foundation has launched its activities in and around the villages of Vemagiri, where the VPGL (Vemagiri Power Generation Limited) is located, since 2005.
Ambulance Service for poor and Mobile Medicare Unit (MMU), in collaboration with Helpage India, were initiated from 11th Nov 2005, at Vemagiri, Kadiam Mandal, East Godavari Dt., of Andhra Pradesh. The MMU serves people of the age group 60 plus, by delivering healthcare to their doorsteps. About 1000 old people use this service in a given month. Ambulance caters to about 20 emergencies per month.
3 Bala Badis (pre-schools) have been started in Kadiyapu Lanka, Vemagiri and Kadiam and 3 Vidya Volunteers were placed in Primary Schools of Kadiam, Kadiyapulanka and Vemagiri in 2006.
The area, being on the highway and having a tradition of devadasis, is today considered vulnerable as far as AIDS is concerned. GMRVF has taken an intensive approach to creating AIDS awareness in the villages. It is working with women�s groups, youth groups etc. Education support is being given to AIDS orphans in the neighbouring villages.
GMRVF is constructing a toilet for the community at Muthyalammapeta village of Vemagiri. The village has given land for this.
Rajam
A large number of villages supply cane to the sugar and ethanol plants. GMRVF works intensively in about 60 villages, towards sustainable rural development. It also reaches out to a large number of other villages with various education and awareness programmes.
Education being the basic tool for development GMRVF invests in education in a variety of ways � from pre-school stage to college and beyond. The Foundation has set up and runs 45 Balabadis (catering to about 800 children) for the 3-5 year age group children. These are centres where the effort is for the overall development of the child as it grows. To continue the good work, Vidya Volunteers are provided to about 50 government schools (reaching out to about 4000+ students) in the villages where teacher-student ratio is poor. These volunteers teach 1st and 2nd standard children. Thus for almost four years the child is supported with a quality educational input to carry it further. The volunteers also conduct bridge classes for the slow learners and a variety of co-curricular and extra-curricular activities to motivate and encourage the innate talents. in the slums of Rajam town the Foundatio n runs tuition centres attended by over 150 students of all classes.
To inculcate the habit of reading among children GMRVF has started �village libraries� in 15 villages. these libraries wean away children from TVs and also engage them usefully during evenings. The libraries are used by the youth for employment and higher education opportunities while farmers use it for knowing fair prices for their commodities. The women folk use the centre to learn something new in arts. Eight youth clubs have been facilitated, who take up various village development activities�from cleaning the villages to stopping sale of alcohol.
Sanitation being a major problem in the developing countries and open defecation a nuisance in India GMRVF has built and is running 8 public toilets for the poor communities in and around Rajam. On an average about 3000 people use the toilets everyday.
Under Healthcare initiatives the Foundation conducts a number of awareness camps in the villages and also Health Weeks with schools as centres. While these programmes are aimed at Preventive Healthcare aspects the Foundation also takes care of the curative part by helping the poor and needy with free supply of medicines and support for surgeries. An Ambulance service is available to all people in Emergencies to transport the patients to District hospitals. Senior citizens being the less cared for in society the Foundation has started running a Mobile Medicare Unit (MMU) for the 60+ year old in about 50 villages around its Sugar Factory near Rajam. The MMU caters to about 2500 senior citizens of these villages by taking Medicare to their doorstep.
About 50 SHGs have been facilitated, where the women not only save, but are also helped to take up income generation activities.
GMRVF works with 5 poor communities in Rajam, in an effort to improve their lives and livelihoods. In these programmes, the needs of the community are analysed, and appropriate initiatives taken in consultation with the community. These could range from facilitating interest-free loans for raw material purchase, to helping individuals overcome addiction, or helping with literacy of the adult women.
The Foundation has adopted about 65 bright children from poor families from in and around Rajam under its �Gifted Children� scheme, and is supporting their entire education in the best English medium educational institutions. The nutritional support of these children is also taken care of by the Foundation. More than ninety percent of these children secure A grade consistently every year.
As a support to higher education the Foundation provides scholarships and loans to meritorious students from poor financial backgrounds to pursue professional education. Recently these loans have been extended to skill trainings as well. The following are the details of the scholarships provided for professional courses in the year 2006 � 07:
Name of the Course No. of beneficiaries Amount
Employment is major problem among the rural youth because of lack of awareness and poverty to pursue higher education. To channelize this power of youth through its livelihoods and empowerment initiatives, GMRVF aims to direct youth through education and career counseling through its Pratibha Counselling Centre at Rajam.
Care and share is the motto of the Foundation. In perusal of this, the Foundation takes up distribution of free food and clothes to Sadhus, handicapped, poor and infirm during Sankranthi day (January) every yearat Rajam. About 25,000 people received food and clothes this year.
Tinidivanam � Ulundurpet Road Project (Villupuram)
GMRV Foundation has started its intervention in Villupuram in October 2007. Activities have been initiated in six villages around the area, where the road project toll plaza will be constructed.
The overall strategy is to have a blend of village intensive programs in the selected villages keeping the thrust areas of Foundation in focus and have general programs like road safety awareness, HIV/AIDS awareness campaign, etc, in the villages across the project area.
The initial activities launched include support to five government schools, evening tuition programs, health camps and awareness programs in the six villages selected.
Uttarakhand
In Uttrakhand the Foundation is working in the Lambagarh Grampanchayat.
A tuition centre is running for children in classes VI-VIII to help them grasp the concepts well and perform well in their exams. 40 children are benefitting.
The GMRVF is running a school bus to pick and drop school children. This facility has greatly help in reducing the drop out rates of girls. Earlier they dropped out from school because their parents feared to send them school all alone. Over 50 students use this. Special days are celebrated in GOvt. Schools, which provides an opportunity to the children for participating in the co- curricular activities and breaks the monotonous daily routine.
A community library set up in Lambagarh wherein books ranging from fiction to general awareness to home tips etc. is used by different sections of the community.
A weekly medical dispensary is conducted in the Lambagarh Grampanchayat where the patients are diagnosed and free medicines are distributed to the ailing patients. A full time paramedical staff is present in the dispensary for consultation of minor ailments.More than 700 people benefitted during the year. Besides this an ambulance facility is also available to meet emergency situation as there is no conveyance facility to shift the patients to the nearest hospital if a situation so arises.
With an aim to generate employment for the ladies, six SHG groups were formed and imparted training on handicrafts and formation of juice and jelly etc. Recently a marketing outlet was set up in Badrinath where all the products made by the SHG groups are displayed. The stall has done well in the recent tourist season.
6 youth were supported to obtain certificates in skiing, which opens up job opportunities, as skiing instructors are in demand for tourists.
Livelihoods and Empowerment
Through its livelihoods and empowerment initiatives, GMRVF aims to channelize youth power
towards entrepreneurship and livelihood development and empower them to participate equitably in economic progress.
Livelihoods Training Institutions
As part of its �Livelihoods and Empowerment� thrust the Company has set up and is running several institutes of Entrepreneurship Development. The Company has a significant focus on facilitating skill training to the youth and helping them evolve as successful entrepreneurs. The Company has established the following institutes:-
- a) Nagavali Institute of Rural Entrepreneurship Development (NIRED) at Rajam, Andhra Pradesh
- b) Swarna Bharati Institute of Rural Entrepreneurship Development (SIRED) at Nellore, Andhra Pradesh
- c) Bellikoth Institute of Rural Entrepreneurship Development (BIRED) at Bellikoth, Kerala.
- d) Jarjangi Institute of Rural Entrepreneurship Development (JIRED) at Srikakulam, Andhra
Pradesh
- e) GMRV-CEL (Centre for Empowerment and Livelihoods), Hyderabad
Three of these i.e NIRED, SIRED and BIRED are working in collaboration with Andhra Bank Rural Development Trust (ABRDT), JIRED and GMRV-CEL, Hyderabad are being run independently by the Foundation. The goal of these institutes is to facilitate self employment and wage employment through skill training and overall development. While selecting trainees, priority is given to the economically and socially most disadvantaged.
These institutes train unemployed youth in a variety of skills, from plumbing to tailoring to twowheeler repair to photography and videography. Apart from the technical skill, considerable emphasis is placed on developing the entrepreneurial spirit of the participants, strengthening their motivation, communication skills, enterprise management skills, confidence, etc. After the training, the Company helps by facilitating bank loans for those who want to set up micro-enterprises, and works with potential employers for placements. The Company extends hand-holding support to trainees for two years after the training, to ensure that they are able to build on their training. The training as well as boarding and lodging is provided free of cost to the candidates. In Hyderabad, where the centre is currently run as a day course, free bus passes and lunch are provided to the candidates.
A rigorous process which covers the pre-training, training, post-training, handholding phases, ensures that the trainees are confidently able to establish themselves in their enterprises or jobs. About 2000 young people are trained every year, and the settlement rate is upwards of 75%.
The following are the details and performance of these institutes in the year 2007-2008:
| Bellikoth Institute of Rural Entrepreneurship Development | |
| A. No. of awareness camps conducted | Nil |
| B. No. of skill development programmes conducted | 10 |
| C. No. of other programmes conducted | 49 |
| D. No. of candidates trained | 1415 |
| E. No. of candidates settled | 65% |
|
Hyderabad Vocational Training Center |
|
| A. No. of awareness camps conducted | 8 |
| B. No. of skill development programmes conducted | 8 |
| C. No. of other programmes conducted | 20 |
| D. No. of candidates trained | 332 |
| E. No. of candidates settled | 295 (89%) |
| Jarjangi Institute of Rural Entrepreneurship Development | |
| A. No. of awareness camps conducted | 12 |
| B. No. of skill development programmes conducted | 1 |
| C. No. of other programmes conducted | 7 |
| D. No. of candidates trained | 104 |
| E. No. of candidates settled | 94 |
|
Nagavalli Institute of Rural Entrepreneurship Development |
|
| A. No. of awareness camps conducted | 36 |
| B. No. of skill development programmes conducted | 3 |
| C. No. of other programmes conducted | 41 |
| D. No. of candidates trained | 681 |
| E. No. of candidates settled | 628 |
| Swarna Bharati Institute of Rural Entrepreneurship Development | |
| A. No. of awareness camps conducted | 26 |
| B. No. of skill development programmes conducted | 26 |
| C. No. of other programmes conducted | 3 |
| D. No. of candidates trained | 1254 |
| E. No. of candidates settled | 1028 |
Donations
To further the mandate of the Foundation, i.e. to make quality education , health and livelihoods accessible to communities, grant support was extended to reputed charitable organizations including, Ananya Trust, Banglaore that provides education and life skills to street children; Vasavi Vedanidhi Trust, Bangalore that provides Vedic education to the children from deprived sections and trains them as pundits; IPDP (Integrated Project for Development of People), Bangalore that arranges day care centre for the children of servant maids; Nightingale Medical Trust, Bangalore that provides medical aid to the elderly; Sri Krishna Sevashram Hospital, Bangalore that provides affordable medical care; Raj Prakash Trust, Bangalore that provides free medical care to villagers; Naandi Foundation, Hyderabad for a hospital for neonatal care; Rotary Club of Hydrabad for construction of Electric Crematorium; OEU Lions Eye Hospital, Garividi and Shankar Foundation Visakhapatnam for arranging eye operations to the villagers; and various organizations that cater to destitutes, handicapped and blind and students belonging to economically weaker