CSR: Delhi Half Marathon 2024 raises 10 Million Meals for Children and Animals Through #RunForZeroHunger
The third edition of the celebrated Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon concluded today with record participation from over 36,000 runners to support the cause of #RunForZeroHunger. Vedanta through its social impact arm, The Anil Agarwal Foundation (AAF), pledged to provide one meal for every kilometer run, resulting in raising 10 million meals, this year. The meals raised have doubled compared to the meals raised last year through Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon.
In the previous two editions, the contribution of the runners led to the provision of 7 million meals to the children of Nand Ghar, AAF’s flagship Women & Child Development project, which constitutes a network of modern, state-of-the-art Anganwadis. Anil Agarwal Foundation has distributed almost 7.2 million multi-millet bars, so far, at Anganwadis including Nand Ghars, resulting in a significant reduction of 15% in Severely Acute Malnourished cases and 12% in Moderately Acute Malnourished cases, within a concentrated group of Nand Ghars.
In this edition, AAF extended its commitment beyond nourishing children to include animals, recognizing the interconnected health of people, animals, and the environment under the ‘One Health’ approach. This ‘Meals for All’ initiative will benefit animals through AAF’s animal welfare project, The Animal Care Organization (TACO), in addition to children across nearly 6,500 Nand Ghars, operating in 14 states across India.
The races were flagged off by Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Non-Executive Director, Vedanta and Chairperson, Hindustan Zinc Ltd., in the presence of Shri Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs; Smt Raksha Nikhil Khadse, Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports and Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Captain of the Indian National Football Team, along with other dignitaries. Hebbar, who also participated in the 10K run, remarked, “Today, we witnessed an extraordinary display of determination and unity as people across the globe came together, not just for fitness, but for a cause that resonates with us all. I am glad to have run and am humbled to contribute to the larger dream of combating malnourishment. With every kilometer run, all marathoners added to the number of meals that will be provided for nourishing children and for feeding animals. I am confident that we have created history by raising 10 million meals, this year. Together we have run for zero hunger.”
Valarie Allman, the current Paris Olympics 2024 Discus Throw Gold Medallist from the United States of America & the International Event Ambassador of VDHM 2024, inspired the runners at the marathon. Many celebrities and influencers including Milind Soman, RJ Naved, Gul Panag, and various Delhi-based cyclist, fitness and runners’ clubs lent their support to the cause of #RunForZeroHunger.
Leading up to VDHM race day, another 36,000 members from the Vedanta community, including leadership, CXOs, employees and business partners participated in activities, to raise meals pledged by Vedanta. While some ran in Delhi, others participated in mini marathons and walkathons held across Vedanta’s 19 business locations, as well as via the StepSetGo app.
A Finisher’s medal was awarded to the runners. The medal is crafted from the purest and highest-grade zinc sourced from Zawar Mines in Udaipur — the world’s largest and oldest mines in the heritage state of Rajasthan. The Zinc is produced by Hindustan Zinc Limited, India’s leading zinc producer and a Vedanta Group company.
Vedanta is committed to nurturing grassroot sports and use platforms such as marathons to mobilise communities for fitness and social change. VDHM 2024 is the 19th edition Delhi Half Marathon and third year of Vedanta’s association with it. It looks forward to continuing its #RunForZeroHunger movement in the upcoming marathons across India and be back in Delhi next year!
Disclaimer: This media release is auto-generated. The CSR Journal is not responsible for the content.
Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation Enhances Firefighting Capabilities with MAGIRUS 64 Meter Turntable Ladder
Virar, India: The Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC) has taken a significant step to strengthen its firefighting infrastructure with the addition of the MAGIRUS 64 Meter Turntable Ladder (TTL-M64L). This state-of-the-art equipment will greatly enhance the corporation’s ability to tackle fire emergencies in tall buildings, improve victim rescue efforts, and support effective fire mitigation strategies.
The TTL-M64L is designed to reach buildings up to 21 stories or higher, overcoming one of the biggest challenges firefighters face-access to tall structures. Key features include an advanced jacking system and computerised stabilisation technology, which ensure minimal vibrations even with fast movements and wind velocity, making it a crucial asset in emergency situations.
As Vasai Virar continues to develop, with an increasing number of high-rise buildings, the MAGIRUS TTL-M64L will play a crucial role in high-rise firefighting and rescue operations. Additionally, the narrow roads and congested areas of VVMC present unique challenges, but the compact design and versatility of the TTL-M64LL allow it to operate efficiently in such environments. This will enable better response times during fire emergencies, significantly improving the city’s firefighting and rescue capabilities.
Commenting on the occasion, Anil Kumar Pawar, Municipal Commissioner of the Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation, said, “The safety of our residents is our top priority, and this new addition to our fleet ensures that we are better prepared for emergencies. With the MAGIRUS TTL-M64L, we can now respond more effectively to fire incidents in high-rise buildings and ensure the safety of our citizens.”
MAGIRUS, the German company behind this cutting-edge vehicle, has been a global leader in firefighting solutions since its founding in 1864. The brand is synonymous with innovation, providing some of the most advanced and comprehensive firefighting equipment in the world. The addition of the MAGIRUS TTL-M64L to VVMC’s fleet marks a milestone in upgrading the city’s emergency response capabilities.
The vehicle was delivered to the Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation on 16 October 2024 by Unicare Emergency Equipment, MAGIRUS’s partner in India.
Clint Pereira, Managing Director of Unicare Emergency Equipment, added, “We are very happy to see the MAGIRUS TTL-M64L join the Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation’s fleet. In an emergency situation, when people need to be rescued, the reliable functioning of infrastructure and equipment is paramount. The MAGIRUS name is synonymous with quality and innovation, when it comes to emergency equipment, there can be no compromise.”
In addition to the new ladder, Unicare Emergency Equipment also conducted its first demo of two advanced robotic firefighting products at the Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation. The MAGIRUS TAF-35, a turbine-aided robotic technology, with an ability to create water mist with a reach of 60 to 70 metres. The second product, MAGIRUS WOLF R1, is a robotic firefighting unit designed for hazardous situations where human intervention is too dangerous.
Disclaimer: This media release is auto-generated. The CSR Journal is not responsible for the content.
Digital classrooms set up in Karnataka’s Davangere with CSR support
Bengaluru, India: United Way Bengaluru (UWB) in partnership with Zila Panchayat, Davangere supported by Advanced Micro Devices India Pvt. Ltd. (AMD), has set up digital classrooms enhancing coaching for students in Davangere district. These smart classrooms have been set up in 21 Pre-University Government colleges in the district.
The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) by the National Testing Agency (NTA) under the Ministry of Education (MoE), Govt. of India is the basis for students entering the engineering stream. Considered as one of the toughest examinations in India, the JEE is the gateway for pursuing engineering as a career for students. In recent years, the quality of coaching has become a crucial factor in the probability of students getting a college and stream of their choice. Many students have to move cities to get quality training which uproots them from their family and local communities; it is also a large financial burden for the families to sustain such an effort. These barriers are a key reason many students find it difficult to score well in the JEE.
Recognizing this gap in the system, the Zila Panchayat, Davangere embarked on bringing world-class infrastructure available in the metros to Davangere by expanding access to technology with new smart classrooms. The ease of access and locally available infrastructure aim to bring quality training infrastructure to those who otherwise could not afford to travel to metros and to girls who have an interest but could not find coaching infrastructure locally.
It is anticipated that more than 6500 students studying in Davangere will benefit from these digital classrooms.
Speaking on the occasion Ms. Gunjan Krishna (IAS), Commissioner for Industrial Development and Director, Department of Industries & Commerce, Government of Karnataka said, “Enhancing opportunities by providing quality learning is the cornerstone of increasing the per capita income of the district. The children in Davangere have the talent to outshine their peers if we can give them the same infrastructure that the others have. The effort made by United Way Bengaluru and AMD to come together and help enhance the possibilities for children from the district to become engineers is laudable.”
Jaya Jagadish, Country Head, AMD India & SVP, Silicon Design Engineering said, “No child must have to live with the regret that they did not get the opportunity to make their life better. At AMD we draw from the societies we live in and Davangere is a prime example of how companies like AMD can build stronger and more resilient fraternities which contribute to nation building. Through our Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, AMD provides many such enablement in STEM leadership for students. We are proud to have this opportunity to give back to society.”
Speaking on the occasion Mr. Rajesh Krishnan, CEO, United Way Bengaluru said, “United Way connects partners, donors, volunteers, and community leaders to tackle the root causes of the world’s most complex challenges while making a positive impact in the lives of millions of people. Together we are taking meaningful steps promoting inclusive and accessible education, ensuring that students have the tools they need to thrive in today’s digital age. The initiative of the Zila Panchayat will go a long way in bridging the gap and building talent while scaling the incomes in Davangere.”
Disclaimer: This media release is auto-generated. The CSR Journal is not responsible for the content.