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May 2, 2025
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Mercedes-Benz India Reinforces Its Commitment To Rural Development

By
The CSR Journal
-
rural india

Mercedes-Benz India has announced three unique initiatives in Pune aimed at rural development and will affect lives of over two thousand villagers. These initiatives include an E-lab facility at ITI Ghodegaon, a watershed conservation structure at Thakarwadi-Landewadi and the Draw Down Cultivation project in Ambegaon taluka.

Over the years, the company has focused on building future by taking up some sustainable business activities benefiting humanity and nature. The focus has been particularly on education, local skill development, health and sanitation, rural development and welfare, environment and natural resource management.

The E-lab facility to the students of ITI Ghodegaon will help them gain hands-on experience in digital learning and increase their competencies in a growing market. The facility accommodates around 45 students per class and 500 students every year for their digital learning and soft skill development. The lab will also act as a central training facility for all trainers of Industrial Training Institute of Maharashtra.

In line with the company’s effort to arrive at Natural Resource Management interventions the ‘Jal Yukta Shivar’ initiative by Honorable Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri. Devendra Fadnavis, to make Maharashtra state drought free, it undertook desiltation and renovation of existing traditional water sources that will cater to the needs of villagers throughout the year. Through the project, the company has renovated an existing dam in village Thakarwadi near Landewadi near Manchar, Ambegaon taluka. This will gather more water, which will benefit not only Thakarwadi but also six other downstream villages.

In order to create alternative livelihood for tribals from catchment of Dimbhe dam of Ambegaon Taluka, the company has initiated the Draw Down Cultivation project. Draw Down Cultivation (cultivation on floodplains), is the type of farming where, the dam backwater seasonally recedes which makes the fertile and uncultivated land optimal for cultivation of short maturing crops. This cultivation practice needs little irrigation requirements as the moisture is retained in the soil for a longer time. Around 400 families will benefit with this initiative.

Talking about these initiatives, Mr. Santosh Iyer, Vice-President, Customer Services & Corporate Affairs, Mercedes-Benz India said, “It is our constant endeavour to contribute back to the society, in our own way, under the ‘Mercedes for India’ initiative. As a responsible automaker and a conscientious corporate citizen, these novel initiatives of setting up an E-lab facility, renovating the water conservation structure and Draw Down Cultivation are just small steps towards helping the citizens of our country. We enable local people to actively participate in the project activities, wherein their inputs are valued the most. We believe in acting for the betterment of the society and the country at large and it will always be our continuous effort to give back to the society through varied initiatives in the future.”

The Draw Down Cultivation project is developed by Shashwat Trust, a Pune based NGO, where seasonal flood plains are utilised for short term farming purpose for tribal families who do not have enough livelihood options. Shashwat Trust has been internationally recognised by UNDPs ‘Equator Prize’ for their successful implementation of the project in tribal zone. Through Mercedes-Benz India’s CSR funds, the project targets to benefit another 400 tribal families from Ambegaon taluka of Pune.

What is Diversity At Work?

By
Kasmin Fernandes
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diversity at work
The work environment is no longer as it used to be. It is no longer easy to hold the simplistic vision that workers are the same as “human resources” or as “labour force”. Terms used to dehumanize and clear out any personal characteristic from this environment.
The diversity of people, situations, perspectives and expectations force organizations to seek for essence for what makes sense. For ways of being and of doing things, escaping from formulas that value only the superficial.
People bring to the workplace a plurality of characteristics that defy rules, styles, standards, processes and politics that were once obeyed with few questions asked. Discriminatory practices, previously taken as natural, are now rejected. Specificities are now expected to be considered, respected and, even more than that, to be made explicit. There is a deconstruction of the dominant standard which determines what is accepted as normal, beautiful, healthy, correct and competent. Attributes that get confused with characteristics such as gender, race, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity, for example.
What was previously made invisible or ignored now demands attention. There is a lack of repertoire to deal with the diversity of characteristics or identity markers in which organizations perform their activities.
There are still those who try to pretend it’s possible to ignore diversity and those who recognize that the management world faces new challenges. One of these challenges is the coexistence with issues of sexual orientation and gender identity. The denial of rights because of sexual orientation and gender identity is named homo-lesbo-transphobia. A violence that transforms sexual diversity characteristics into reasons for inequality, vulnerability, exclusion and all kinds of risks.
The right to work is one of these human rights that have to be assured to LGBT people. It’s not just about having access to jobs and work stability, but it is also about the right to an inclusive environment where everyone is able to fully develop their potential, with no barriers or obstructions to their career, with respectful treatment, equality and liberty to express themselves with no constraint or violence. It does not allow the recognition of qualities in their professional activities and submits them to constant and invasive personal judgment of their intimacy.
The workplace promise, in any organization, is that merit is the basis to choose a job applicant. Prejudice and discrimination destroy this promise. Any difference from the dominant standard, which is heteronormative and contrary to the diversity of characteristics and situations of life, speaks louder than a person’s skill, which should be the main focus when choosing someone for a job.
Environments that create unhappy and less productive people based on prejudice, stigma, harassment, violence and discrimination practices are not interesting to the fight for expanding worker rights, and not even to companies that aim for success in their activities and results.
Diversity is about environments that are respectful, inclusive and that promote interaction between people. They value diversity, are potentially more creative, qualified, innovative and capacitated to deal with a diverse world, under rapid and profound change.
This article is part of a series on LGBT rights.

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Boehringer Ingelheim Inaugurated Facility For Children With Multiple Disabilities In Mumbai

By
The CSR Journal
-
facility for children with multiple disabilities

In India there are 20.42 lakh disabled children who are aged between 0 and 6 years. Out of which 14.52 lakh and 5.9 lakh children live in rural and urban areas respectively. Of them, 11.04 lakh are male and 9.38 lakh are female children. Among them, 1.49 lakh children have multiple disabilities.

Boehringer Ingelheim, one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical company, has inaugurated ‘first-of-its-kind’ facility for children with multiple disability at Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital in association with Muskan foundation. The program in Mumbai, designed with an aim to train the visually impaired children accompanied by an additional disabilities to help communicate effectively and develop modification to their behaviour essential for their daily routine. The facility was inaugurated by Manuela Pastore, Global Director as a part of the social entrepreneurial initiative Making More health at Boehringer Ingelheim.

Explaining the thought process behind the association, Sharad Tyagi, Managing Director, Boehringer Ingelheim said, “We wish to reinforce the importance of having a normal life for children with special needs and this initiative is a step in that direction. This is one of the many programs undertaken by us to fulfil our commitment towards the people of the country. At the facility, we hope to enable the children with multiple disabilities lead a normal life.”

Ms. Dipti Gandhi, Hon Director of Muskan Foundation for People with Multiple Disabilities said, “Through this unique facility we have tried to touch the lives of 102 children who are visually impaired accompanied by an additional disability, out of which 10 children come from outside Mumbai to get trained at our centre. At the centre, we have an Individual education program, specially designed keeping in mind the needs and requirements of every child for his growth. We have planned a multi-facet program to train these children which includes a therapist, parent, and a special educator”.

Emphasizing on the unique initiative at the hospital, Dr. Minnie Bodhanwala, CEO of Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children said “The initiative is planned keeping in mind the entire medical and mental support system necessary for children with special needs. As we have a hospital thoughtfully designed for children, unique facility to train children with multiple disabilities was a need. We have special programs designed considering a totally new approach required for every child who enrols”

At the Facility, the children are trained to manage their disabilities with a multi-disciplinary approach to ensure that they are able to make a lasting difference in their health and life. While the facility also focuses on educating the parents who will then receive comprehensive training for effective management of these children at home.

Currently the facility has over 100+ children with multiple disabilities like blindness, deafness, cerebral palsy etc.

CSR: Sex Education for Adolescents in India

By
Hency Thacker
-
sex education in India
Sex education among children is almost non-existent in India. Talking openly about sex is considered to be a taboo in the country which acts as a barrier in delivering this knowledge effectively to Indian children and adolescents. However, it is overlooked not only by the society but also by the Indian healthcare system.
Nearly one fifth of the world’s population comprises of adolescents. India has the largest adolescent population which accounts to 243 million people making them 25 per cent of the country’s population. Sex education is crucial for this demographic as they go through a lot of physiological, emotional and behavioural development changes during this stage.
Adolescents in the age group of 15-24 years contribute to 31 per cent of AIDS population in India. Only 19 per cent girls and 35 per cent boys in the country have comprehensive knowledge of HIV and AIDS. Apart from that, incidents of sexual abuse, violence and physical abuse are increasing rapidly among the adolescents. According to a study on child abuse in India conducted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, 53 per cent boys and 47 per cent girls surveyed have faced some sort of sexual abuse. Therefore, family life education (FLE) might help this young vulnerable population of the country to be aware about their sexual rights and empower them to protect themselves from any undesired acts of violence, sexual abuse and molestation.
In addition to this, experts have said that adolescents gain more general life skills such as communication, listening, decision making, negotiation and learning to ask for through sex education. It also helps them to identify trustworthy sources for advice such as parents, care givers and professionals through family, community and health and welfare services.
Owing to the cultural stigma, there have been strong objections about provision of sex education in schools. This is has caused six states of India including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Karnataka to ban it from the school curriculum.
Despite this, there is an adolescent FLE program proposed by National AIDS Control Organisation and the Ministry of Human Resources and Development in the Indian curriculum. The program includes education about Human sexual anatomy, sexual reproduction, reproductive health, rights and responsibilities, emotional relations, contraception and other aspects of human sexual and non sexual behaviour. Provision of this program might result in multiple benefits to the adolescents including delayed initiation of sexual activities, family planning, reduced risks of abuse and recourse to abortion, greater completion of education and curb in STDs.
Thank you for reading the story until the very end. We appreciate the time you have given us. In addition, your thoughts and inputs will genuinely make a difference to us. Please do drop in a line and help us do better.
Regards,
The CSR Journal Team
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Gender Sensitivity Is Antidote To Sexism

By
Kasmin Fernandes
-
gender sensitivity
In the wake of the #metoo explosion in India, we explore the sexism debate. Sexism exists in women as well as in men; it has no respect for individual aspirations, potential or abilities. In obvious and subtle ways, it influences the outcomes of a myriad of life situations the world over.
The concept of gender sensitivity has been developed as a way to reduce barriers to personal and economic development created by sexism. Gender sensitivity helps to generate respect for the individual regardless of sex.
Gender sensitivity is not about pitting women against men. On the contrary, education that is gender-sensitive benefits members of both sexes. It helps them determine which assumptions in matters of gender are valid and which are stereotyped generalizations. Gender awareness requires not only intellectual effort but also sensitivity and open-mindedness. It opens up the widest possible range of life options for both women and men.
Gender disparity in education is widely recognized. It threatens to outlive the present generation and many more to come. Gender-sensitive education has value for all members of society. It is probably the best education for creating a learning atmosphere that is fair and sustainable for all. It promises to be a viable alternative for the building of enduring progress in Education for All.
Parents in traditional societies see girls as “transient” members of the family to be married off to another family, while boys are heirs to carry on the family name. Women’s potential for excelling in “non-traditional’’ endeavours receives scanty mention in educational materials. Materials rarely picture women as managers, pilots, lawyers, scientists, doctors or heads of state.
In recent years, an increasing number of people have come to understand that, with the exception of tasks that require excessive physical exertion, women can excel in all the fields that men can. Conversely, except for childbearing and breastfeeding, there are no tasks that men cannot perform as well as women.
The fact that there have been female scientists, electricians, auto mechanics, pilots, doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs and managers and male designers and couturiers, chefs, hairdressers, nurses, kindergarten teachers in great numbers attests to the fact that the demarcation of roles along sex lines is arbitrary and entirely invented by societies.

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भारत में तेजी से फैल रहा ‘मी टू’ कैंपेन, अब तक कई बड़ी हस्तियों के नाम आए सामने

By
Rahuldeo Sharma
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MEE TOO CAMPAIGN
हमारे देश की महिलाएं बोल रही है, मेरी बहने, मेरी माताएं, मेरी बेटी, मेरी दोस्त बोल रही है, आवाज़ उठा रही है, लड़ रही है, सामना कर रही है। लड़ाई उस मानसिकता से है, आवाज़ समाज की बुराईयों से, सामना उस परिस्थितियों से है जो ये समझ बैठा है कि हमारा समाज पुरुष प्रधान है, जो समझ बैठा है कि हमारी औरतें मर्दों की महज जागीर है, जो समझ बैठा है कि हमारे देश की औरते महज सेक्स के लिए है, इस मानसिकता और ऐसे इंसानों से हमारे देश की महिलाएं लड़ रही है और जीत रही है। हथियार मिला है हैशटैग मीटू, सोशल मीडिया इंटरनेट के ज़माने में आज महिलाएं अपने ऊपर हुए अत्याचार की ना सिर्फ शिकायत कर रही है बल्कि बड़ा जिगर लेकर सामने आकर सोशल प्लैटफॉर्म पर जिक्र भी कर रही है। एक जमाना था, महिलाएं घूँघट के दायरे में थी, पराये मर्द तो दूर अपने पति का नाम लेने को पाप मानती थी लेकिन जो पाप मर्द सदियों से किया करते थे उसे अब जगजाहिर कर रही है।
तनुश्री दत्ता सिर्फ एक प्रतीक या नाम हैं । असल में भारत की महिलाओं का एक वड़ा वर्ग गुस्से में है, यह वो वर्ग है, जिसने घर के बाहर कदम रखा, पुरुषों के क्षेत्र में अपने पांव जमाने की कोशिश की, उनके साथ प्रतिस्पर्धा किया, उन्हें हराया, उन्हें चित किया, कई बार उनके इरादों पर पानी फेरा, पुरुषों से लोहा-लेती यह महिलाएं भी परेशान हुईं, प्रताड़ित हुईं, रोई-धोईं, अपने आप पर शक किया, अपनी क्षमता को संदेह की नजर से देखा, नौकरी छोड़ी, घर में बंद हो गईं, काम से हाथ धो बैठीं, सालों-साल अवसाद में रहीं, यह महिलाएं अब बोल रहीं हैं, कई बड़े किले एक साथ ध्वस्त हो रहे हैं, एक तरफ जहां फिल्मी दुनिया से तनुश्री दत्ता है, कंगना रानौत है तो वही कई ऐसे क्षेत्र है जहाँ महिलाएं अपनी आवाज़ को बुलंद कर रही है। मी टू कैंपेन से जहां एक साथ कई किले ढह रहे हैं, जहां एक तूफान आ खड़ा हुआ है, वही मी टू कहने को तो यह सिर्फ दो लफ्ज हैं लेकिन लाखों लोगों ने इन्हीं दो लफ्जों के जरिए अपने साथ हुए यौन शोषण की आपबीती बेबाकी के साथ सुना दी। चाहे वो तनुश्री हो या कंगना, या फिर पत्रकार।
मी टू कैंपेंन आज से ठीक एक साल पहले अमेरिका में शुरू हुआ था, जब हॉलीवुड प्रोड्यूसर हार्वे व्हाईंस्टीन के खिलाफ अभिनेत्री रोज मैक्गोवन ने सेक्सुअल असॉल्ट का आरोप लगाया था, जिसके बाद मैक्गोवन के आह्वान पर दुनियाभर की औरतें एकजुट हुईं और #metoo कैंपेन की शुरुआत हुई। इसके ठीक एक साल बाद भारत में इस समय एक बार फिर से इस आंदोलन की गूंज तेज हो गई है, शुरुआत, पूर्व मिस इंडिया और अभिनेत्री तनुश्री दत्ता के 10 सालों बाद भारत लौटने के बाद फिर से एक्टर नाना पाटेकर खिलाफ आवाज उठाने से हुई। तनुश्री ने नाना पाटेकर पर उनके साथ 10 साल पहले एक फिल्म की शूटिंग के दौरान गलत तरीके से छूने का आरोप लगाया था, लेकिन उनकी आवाज को दबा दिया गया था, इस बार तनुश्री के समर्थन में फिल्म जगत से कई लोग सामने आए हैं। तो वही के फिल्मी सितारें तनुश्री का विरोध भी किया।
अब विरोध हो या समर्थन लेकिन इस अभियान के ज़रिए ये बात साफ़ हो गयी है कि हमारे समाज में महिलाओं के साथ होने वाली यौन-हिंसा एक गंभीर समस्या है, जिससे हर दूसरी महिला जूझ रही है। बहरहाल इस आंदोलन के ज़रिए ही सही महिलाओं का इस तरह अपनी आपबीती बेबाकी के साथ सोशल मीडिया पर साझा करना समाज के लिए अच्छा संदेश है, लेकिन इसकी अच्छाई कायम तभी रह सकती है जब महिलाओं की इन आपबीती को गंभीरता के साथ लिया जाये, वरना ये सच्ची कहानियाँ भी सिर्फ अफ़साने तक सिमटकर रह जाएगी।

Gulf Oil brings cricketers MS Dhoni and Hardik Pandya together for ‘Guardian on Road’

By
The CSR Journal
-
MS Dhoni giving helmets for Guardian on Road campaign

It is estimated that about 29 children die in road safety accidents every day and most of them in two-wheeler accidents. Road fatalities are becoming an alarming issue in light of the increasing numbers of children riding with family on two-wheelers. The wearing of helmets is compulsory for the drivers of two-wheelers, but on most occasions children pillion riders are never made to wear them.

To spread awareness about this largely ignored issue of children’s safety on two-wheelers, which are ubiquitous on Indian roads, Gulf Oil Lubricants has started a unique nationwide campaign called “Guardian on road” to distribute more than 15000 helmets to children. MS Dhoni and Hardik Pandya have come out in support of this cause and joined Gulf Oil in urging parents to take a pledge to always make their kids wear helmets while riding on two-wheelers.

Gulf Oil’s brand ambassador, MS Dhoni kick-started the campaign by distributing helmets to children in Chennai. This fortnight-long activity will take place in key cities across India, including Mumbai, Coimbatore, Lucknow, Vadodara, Ranchi and Dehradun.

Gulf Oil’s CSR initiatives have traditionally focussed on road safety and earlier they have distributed helmets to the traffic police. They have taken the message a step ahead and decided to distribute specially designed ISI certified helmets to the children, riding pillion on two-wheelers. While children’s helmets are available in all sizes, Gulf Oil is distributing helmets, which are 540 mm in size and ISI certified. These helmets typically will fit children between 8 – 13 years old.

Gulf Oil is also launching a pledge page on their website where people can go and take a safety pledge to ensure that children in their family never ride two-wheelers without a helmet.

Watch the campaign here: https://youtu.be/Rrib9K1ygsU

Mahindra Holidays becomes India’s first Hospitality Company to sign on RE 100 and EP 100

By
The CSR Journal
-

Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India Ltd. (MHRIL) has committed to join RE 100, a global campaign led by The Climate Group bringing together the world’s most influential businesses committed to 100% renewable power. The company has a target to power 100% of its global operations with renewable electricity by 2050. In 2016, MHRIL had signed on EP100, committing to doubling energy productivity by 2030 from a baseline year of 2008-09. It thus becomes the first company in the hospitality sector to sign on both the programs.

Said Kavinder Singh, MD & CEO, Mahindra Holidays, “By signing on both EP 100 and RE 100, we have reinforced our commitment to achieving our renewable energy and energy productivity targets. We believe these initiatives are in alignment with our mission of ‘Good Living, Happy Families’.”

Currently 7% of MHRIL’s current energy requirements are sourced from renewable sources that amounts to 1,470 kWp which is largely solar power. On the EP100 front, the company has been reducing overall energy consumption using energy efficient devices and alternate materials of construction for their new resorts.

CSR: Content Children Consume

By
Hency Thacker
-
Shinchan TV Show

Between the TV, computer, Internet, gaming consoles and mobile phone, kids are spoilt for choice. Some kids even have access to virtual reality headsets. According to IAMAI’s report, out of 400 million internet users in 2015, 28 million were children. That number has grown exponentially due to higher internet penetration and democratisation in electric hardware.

Mithila Mahajan had twins 4 months ago. Her daughters get to watch TV for 30 minutes every day and their eyes are glued to the screen the entire time. That says something about the consumption pattern of content by today’s kids.

In most Indian homes, there is just one TV. Kids do get to watch cartoons in their own time but they also watch TV with their parents so they end up watching everything from Shin Chan to Crime Patrol, from Chota Bheem to Big Boss.

Kids are quite impressionable and patronise the characters they are exposed to. A petition was filed against Chota Bheem which is one of the most famous cartoon characters in India. The protagonist of the show, Chota Bheem is a 9-year-old kid who acquires superhuman strength by consuming 4-5 laddoos. This promotes unhealthy eating habits in kids as they watch about 4-5 episodes of Chota Bheem at a time which makes them feel they should eat more than 20 laddoos a day as their Superhero does that without any problem!

The show also promotes stereotypes which have had a firm grip on India. The villain of the show is called “Kalia”, a dark-skinned kid which creates a prejudice in the mind of children that dark skin is equivalent to evil.

Another TV show which has created havoc in the lives of parents is Shin Chan. The cartoon character is a five-year-old child who is rude, disobedient and cracks inappropriate jokes. He calls his mother fat and makes fun of her cooking skills. Kids imitate him, thinking it is cool to do everything Shin Chan does.

Kids will end up consuming content one way or another. Parents can’t ban them from watching their favourite TV shows but they can at least influence their kids’ choices.

Thank you for reading the story until the very end. We appreciate the time you have given us. In addition, your thoughts and inputs will genuinely make a difference to us. Please do drop in a line and help us do better.

Regards,
The CSR Journal Team

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CSR: Prisoners Find Catharsis In Art

By
Kasmin Fernandes
-
Art therapy for prisoners
Punishment for its own sake is pointless if it doesn’t transform the mindsets and attitudes of offenders. A prison can become a dangerous breeding ground for criminals, fuelling the very activity it seeks to deter.
Incarcerated individuals have little control over their circumstances or future. Years of confinement result in greater loss of self-worth, a growing sense of anger, anxiety and despair. Families of the incarcerated are also doing time. The burden can be crippling. Half of all male children of inmates will also enter the system as juveniles. Ex-offenders find that freedom from the impact of incarceration does not end at the moment of release.
Years of built-up anger and frustration accompany them as they transition back into the community. Many return to committing crimes within a year of release. The overcrowding that exists in many institutions adds to the anger and frustration of inmates which result in more frequent altercations between inmates and increased threat of staff assault.
Could expressive art therapy be the healing balm necessary for such a grim situation?
A team of art therapy facilitators from NGO Khula Aasman are achieving through watercolour painting, mural making and clay work, the hard-to-find catharsis in art for inmates. Under Project Inner Light – The Prison Project, they are working with Prayas, TISS and Tata Trusts for enhancing the mental health of inmates using a combination of music, drama, visual art and relaxation techniques. These are men and women undergoing court proceedings or under trial from various social classes.
“There seemed to be a lack of group work so we began the mural painting session and took up representing meaningful artwork on the entrance wall and the inside wall of a classroom assigned to them. This activity acted as a bonding agent for some women,” says Sarita Ganesh, founder, Khula Aasman.
The inmates doodle and create small religious idols, pictures of their homes, villages and family members. Some of the art is so good, it is hand-stitched onto recycled fabric for framing for sale to corporate houses. Proceeds from the sale go towards art material for the incarcerated in Yerawada, Nashik, Pune and Byculla jails. Adds Sarita, “There was mural painting one session where the women prisoners painted on a large scale as a team. There was immense laughter, relaxation and creative release.”
There are immense creative possibilities of exposing more inmates to the expressive art therapy process. With a clear improvement in their mental state, they are finding catharsis in art. There is a high possibility for empowering them to deal with their inner and outer chaos in independent ways.

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