They stay awake day and night to ensure that the citizens of India get to enjoy a peaceful sleep at night and feel secured inside their homes during the day. We are safe because the Indian Army is working round the clock to protect our borders.
On Armed Forces Day 2023, The CSR Journal takes a look into Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives meant for the benefit of Indian Army personnel and their families. At the same time, we will also highlight a few philanthropic initiatives by the Indian Army for underprivileged students.
Infosys Foundation’s initiative for Army Widows and Children
Infosys Foundation, the philanthropic and CSR arm of Infosys, announced in March this year that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Directorate of Indian Army Veterans (DIAV) to provide educational grants and scholarships worth INR 30 crore to widows and children of army personnel, who have been impacted through physical casualty.
Through this collaboration, more than 14,000 widows and children of army personnel from across the country will be able to advance their educational journey. This benefit will be extended to individuals wanting to pursue education from classes 1 to 12, graduation, post-graduation, professional courses, and grants towards computer literacy, as per the announcement.
Infosys Foundation has a long-standing and unwavering commitment towards the Indian armed forces. Since 2016, Infosys Foundation has supported the Rehabilitation and Welfare section of the Indian Army with financial support to thousands of widows, and the next of kin of physical casualties with grants.
Hero Vired’s partnership with Text & Clicks Academy to upskill armed forces personnel
Edtech company Hero Vired announced in January this year that has entered into a new partnership with Text & Clicks Academy to upskill existing, retiring and retired Armed Forces personnel and veterans. This first-of-a-kind partnership offers training and placement in emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Data Science on a larger scale. This collaboration aims to provide attractive employment opportunities that will allow Indian Armed Forces officials to transition into corporate jobs with ease, creating alternate avenues for employment upon retirement.
SBI’s donation towards Armed Forces Battle Casualties Welfare Fund
State Bank of India (SBI) announced in October last year that it has contributed Rs. 2 Crore to the Armed Forces Battle Casualties Welfare Fund (AFBCWF). The fund is extended to armed forces for the welfare of casualties during the battle and support the dependents of the personnel.
SBI has contributed the amount through a website named ‘Maa Bharati Ke Sapoot’ by Shri Rajnath Singh, Hon’ble Defence Minister of India. The website was recently launched at a function organised at the National War Memorial Complex in New Delhi.
The AFBCWF is a Tri-Service fund, which is utilized for grant of immediate financial assistance to the families of soldiers/sailors/airmen who lay down their lives or get grievously injured in active military operations.
SBI donates Cardiac Life Support Ambulance to Army Hospital, New Delhi
State Bank of India (SBI) announced in November last year that it has donated a State-of-the-art Advanced Cardiac Life Support Ambulance to the Army Hospital (Research & Referral), New Delhi, under its Corporate Social Responsibility programme. Shri Kalpesh K. Avasia, Chief General Manager of New Delhi Circle, handed over the vehicle to Surgeon Vice Admiral Rajat Datta, Director General, Armed Forces Medical Services at the Army Hospital (R&R), New Delhi campus.
The Army Hospital (R&R) is the apex flagship medical care centre for the armed forces of India. The hospital also includes a teaching hospital and nursing college. The ambulance is equipped with a modular cardiac defibrillator enabled for shock discharge to wet patients with remote monitoring and works as a Mobile Emergency Care ‘Workplace’ fitted with air suspended fully automatic platform for the patient stretcher with zero jerk. The mobile medical unit also has a world class digital on-board oxygen system, key free mechanically latched furniture consoles and screw free interiors offering hospital grade hygiene and cleanliness. It is the first of its kind of ambulance in the defence services.
Hero Motocorp presents retro fitted scooters to disabled Indian Army Soldiers
Saluting the exemplary grit and determination of Indian Army veterans, Hero MotoCorp handed over Hero Destini 125 scooters to soldiers who were disabled while in service in April, last year.
These retro-fitted Hero Destini 125 scooters are supported by two auxiliary wheels in the rear – which have been customised to provide a safe and convenient riding experience. The Company has handed over these scooters to the soldiers of Indian Army across Gujarat, Delhi-NCR, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Bihar, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Assam and Kerala.
Indian Army’s ‘Super 50’ Initiative for Kashmiri Students
In a philanthropic move, the Indian Army is providing free preparation for medical competitive exams through the ‘Army HPCL Kashmir Super 50’ initiative in the northern districts of Kashmir. The Army is also offering financial assistance to students who are accepted into prestigious medical schools by funding their expenses.
‘Project Kashmir Super 50’ is a programme aimed at improving the scholastic status of children from economically disadvantaged families in Kashmir. It was first released on March 22, 2013. The Indian Army, the Center for Social Responsibility and Leadership (CSRL), and PETRONET LNG Limited (PLL) have collaborated to execute the project in the region.
HPCL collaborates with Indian Army for girl students in Kargil
In September last year, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) and the Indian Army announced a collaboration for implementing a CSR project to coach and mentor less privileged girl students in Kargil. The MoU signing event of the project was held at Headquarters 14 Corps, Leh.
The project titled ‘Kargil Ignited Minds’ aims to prepare 50 girl students for various national-level engineering and medical entrance examinations. The project will focus on empowering underprivileged girls with limited resources and residing in extreme weather conditions.
To be a part of the project, students will have to go through several processes including screening, preliminary tests, and interviews. The project aims to enhance the knowledge, skills, and personality of the students.
