India has tremendous potential for harnessing solar energy. The country that enjoys almost 300 sunny days, can not only free itself from the excessive burden of fossil fuels but also take up a leadership role in the world by helping the developing and underdeveloped nations in the world get electrified. Taking this vision ahead, PM Narendra Modi spoke at the inauguration of the second edition of Global Reinvest Meet in 2018, about the benefits of solar and India’s intent in assuming a leadership role in what he called as the ‘One Sun One World One Grid program.
One Sun One World One Grid program
The idea of the One Sun One World One Grid program is that the entire globe needs to come together to harness the solar power 24X7, thus not limiting solar power to day-time alone. The solar spectrum for the program is divided into two zones – far east including countries such as Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia among others and the far west that would cover west Asia and the African region – with India at the centre of it all. About 88 countries of the world will be participating in the program will be benefitted from it. Through this initiative, India aims to build a global ecosystem of interconnected renewable energy resources that can be seamlessly shared for mutual benefits and global sustainability.
Objectives and Scope of One Sun One World One Grid
The main aim of the program is to minimize the cost of energy and harmonized distribution of energy. The under-developed countries of the world still suffer from major power cuts. The has hindered their development for the longest time. With the advent of the project, these countries will be able to take off their own development at a much faster pace and at a cheaper cost.
In addition to this, the aim is to also prevent loss of excess energy. With a grid that connects the globe, harmonious distribution of energy will be enabled and will, therefore, reduce the loss of energy. This will also essentially ensure energy security of all the countries of the world.
Benefits of the Project
The world heavily relies on fossil fuel currently for its energy needs. The countries spend a lot of money to import these fossil fuels which are polluting to nature and the environment. With the adoption of solar energy, the countries not only be able to save up on this cost but also protect the environment. The central idea of the program is collective ownership of the grid. While the central administration and management of the project will be led by International Solar Alliance and India, the grid would be collectively owned by the countries from which, the network will pass. In this manner, the program will also improve the employment scenario in these countries.
It is the first time that India has taken an initiative at such a global scale, where it is not negotiating as part of a problem but that of a solution. India has an opportunity to set an example in the global community of its ability to take up a leadership position and to ensure that India carries the world with it on its journey to progress and development.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges for people across all sections of society. But while some of us have been able to stay in the safety of our homes with adequate supply of essentials to keep us secure, others have been adversely impacted and are grappling with limited or no access to essential items, including food, for their families.
To reach out to this section of society, McDonald’s India (West and South) partnered with Salaam Bombay Foundation. The brand, along with the NGO has initiated an outreach to distribute safe and hygienic food across various slums in Mumbai. McDonald’s has already distributed over 1,700 meals in close to 10 BMC wards, which Salaam Bombay has delivered through various NGOs across Mumbai. The brand is also ensuring that all social distancing and sanitation practices are being followed strictly while distributing these meals.
Salaam Bombay Foundation has been working closely with the BMC to ensure that food that is being donated is reaching people who need it the most. This has helped in ensuring that there is no duplication of donations and those in need are duly catered to.
Disclaimer: This media release is auto-generated. The CSR Journal is not responsible for the content.
The coronavirus pandemic, locust attacks, restriction of movement and shortage of workers due to the nationwide lockdown have put farmers in a tight spot. CSR has come to their rescue so they can get back on their feet and avoid a food shortage crisis in the future. This is how the latest CSR initiatives of Allcargo Logistics, TAFE and Vedanta Limited are helping farmers recover.
CSR of TAFE helping farmers recover
Tractor manufacturer Tractors and Farm Equipment (TAFE) Limited had launched a Free Tractor Rental Service for farmers in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu, on April 1, 2020, for a period of 90 days, through its JFarm Services platform.
CSR helping farmers recover
The scheme received an overwhelming response from the farming community and within 75 days of its implementation, over 160,000 acres have been cultivated and rental service has been provided benefiting thousands of farmers in this crucial cropping season.
This CSR initiative by TAFE aimed to rescue the farming community from the economic implications of COVID-19, and mitigate the impact of the Coronavirus threat on farming operations of small and marginal farmers during the critical Rabi harvest and Kharif preparation season.
TAFE successfully implemented this free tractor rental scheme for the small and marginal farmers with the administrative support of the respective state governments from the Agriculture Departments of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu. The benefit received by JFarm Services (an initiative by TAFE to increase easy access to farm mechanisation through tractor rental) has been directly given to the farmers by TAFE. This has considerably helped in enhancing the revenue of tractor owners and has been welcomed by both, the owners and the small farmers.
CSR of Allcargo Logistics
As an expression of support to agriculture, Avashya Foundation, the CSR arm of Allcargo Logistics, distributed essential seeds to families from the vulnerable sections of the society. The initiative was undertaken to encourage household food security and foster income generation for the villagers in Raigad Maharashtra. To mark the birthday of Shashi Kiran Shetty, Chairman, Allcargo Logistics Ltd, and Arathi Shetty, Chairperson, CSR Committee, the CSR team distributed rice and vegetable seeds.
Adhering to the social distancing norms, 130 tribal families were supported from five villages in Panvel Block of Raigad district. Distributed by Avashya Foundation volunteers, the team partnered with Savali, an NGO working in the area of education, health, and relief. This initiative is in line with the Chairman and Chairperson’s passion for environment-based initiatives and the need for the creation of self-reliant communities for helping farmers recover.
CSR of Vedanta
Looking at the disruption to lives and livelihoods of farmers post-outbreak of COVID-19 in India, Vedanta launched ‘Farm-to-Shop’, an initiative to help farmers in the periphery of its Jharsuguda (Odisha) plant to continue earning their livelihood and for helping farmers recover.
Created under the aegis of ‘Jeevika Samriddhi’, a farm-based sustainable livelihood CSR project being run by Vedanta in several peripheral villages such as Siriapali, Gudigaon and Keldamal villages, Farm-to-Shop enables farmers to sell their produce directly to employees and families residing in the company’s township.
Rolled out in early April, the initiative benefits over 120 farmers from Siriapali, Keldamal, Gudigaon and Amati (Kolabira block) who are harvesting their rabi crops like potatoes, tomatoes, chilli, watermelon, sweet corn, etc. Within one month, the project has helped sales of 10,600 kgs of vegetables, earning the farmers a revenue of nearly INR 3.58 lakhs, with a net profit of INR 1.5 lakhs.
Meanwhile, Vedanta’s alumina refinery in Lanjigarh in Odisha, is working with marginalised farmers in the area to develop a vegetable cultivation plan and has distributed seeds to the ones most in need. Under this CSR initiative, the plant is ensuring the availability of good quality seeds of bitter gourd, cowpea, ridge gourd, etc. to the local farmers in need, in collaboration with the Agriculture and Horticulture Department. The team has reached out to over 100 farmers in nearby villages in the first phase of this vegetable cultivation plan, which will help them in the cultivation of vegetables in kharif season.
The Central government’s economic relief package for farmers has fallen short of expectations for both, cultivators and farm workers. In such a situation, having more CSR funds from private and public companies directed into agricultural activity could give a boost to helping farmers recover faster.
The Mahatma Gandhi Labour Institute (MGLI), Ahmedabad, hosted a webinar on ‘Strategies to Eliminate Child Labour’ on June 12 to commemorate World Day against Child Labour.
Dr. Helen Seker, Senior Fellow at VV Giri National Labour Institute, Dr. Kingshuk Sarkar, Joint Labour Commissioner, West Bengal, Pushpa Joshi, Child Education Specialist, UNICEF, Gujarat, Divyesh Sonavane, Assistant Labour Commissioner, Gujarat, and Indrajeet Chauhan, Project Manager, Gujarat State Child Protection Society, were the expert speakers at the webinar.
The experts deliberated on the recently amended laws related to child labour and protection. They also covered various aspects on the effectiveness of the laws on health and education of children. Representatives of governments of Gujarat and West Bengal apprised the participants about the various policy initiatives taken by them. They also expressed apprehensions that poverty will rise because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and that this could lead to a higher incidence of child labour.
The sessions were followed by an open house discussion.
Several useful and practical suggestions were received during the webinar for eliminating child labour. These recommendations will be compiled and submitted to the state government for examination and implementation.
Disclaimer: This media release is auto-generated. The CSR Journal is not responsible for the content.
Fujifilm India Private Limited has announced the supply of 800 essential commodity kits to protect mothers and girl children under IRIA Raksha project during this COVID-19 emergency.
The kits consist of washable face mask, hand washing soap, a small pack of sanitary napkins, and Iron supplements like Folvite Tab. Aimed to support and rescue the women who are deprived of basic necessities, Fujifilm is providing these essential commodity kits to add basic comfort in their lives.
Haruto Iwata, Managing Director, Fujifilm India Pvt. Ltd. said, “Staying true to our commitment to support underprivileged females In society, we are happy to play a role in IRIA’s RAKSHA initiative. Today, these girls face a major challenge as the schools have shut down across the country due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This has disrupted the structured learning process across India and can lead to higher dropout rates especially for girls. Being a brand that has taken several steps for the well-being of girls, we have supercharged our mission with ‘IRIA’ to enable uninterrupted education, promote menstrual hygiene and organise awareness campaigns among the underprivileged females.”
Dr. Sangeeta Saxena, Chairperson, Raksha Committee, IRIA added: “Despite national efforts on women empowerment, education and sanitation, females still lack appropriate facilities and community support to manage their studies and menstrual cycle. Our project Raksha is in line with our mission to spread awareness and support women empowerment to the remote corners of our country. Coinciding with our plan to provide a platform where the members can help in the current social issues cantered on the girl child, we are providing essential supplies to the disadvantaged females of Guwahati.”
In addition, CSR of Fujifilm India is conducting educational workshops for underprivileged girls to raise awareness around the importance of self-examination among individuals. With the rise in the spread of Breast Cancer, self-examination has become an important screening tool for women that reduces their chances of being affected.
Disclaimer: This media release is auto-generated. The CSR Journal is not responsible for the content.
During the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak the country’s police force is on the frontlines battling the pandemic. Many dedicated policemen have lost their lives in the process.
As its corporate social responsibility (CSR), Mankind Pharma is standing alongside the families of these heroes and will donate Rs 5 crores to support them. The company will donate Rs 3 lakh to each family of such warriors.
Mankind Pharma has been involved in the country’s fight against the pandemic in several ways. The company has produced affordable medicines, donated ventilators, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and medicines to the states.
The dedicated efforts of the police force in containing the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic has been garnering respect from all quarters of society. Mankind Pharma believes that it is their duty, as a citizen and a part of the country, to appreciate the selfless sacrifice of our brave police officers.
Mankind Pharma has always aspired to be recognized as a top brand both in revenue and serving mankind/ people through its CSR activities. During the initial stage of the pandemic in the country, the company donated Rs. 51 crores to the CM Care Fund. The employees too joined the effort by contributing one day’s salary to the relief fund.
Rajeev Juneja, CEO Mankind Pharma, said, “Our police warriors have shown great bravery in fighting the unprecedented crisis without caring about their life. Being the first line of defence for us after the health workers during COVID, they are getting highly exposed to this deadly disease. Many have lost their lives fighting the pandemic and protecting us. Their invaluable service to the nation and humanity will not be forgotten. We have started a small fund of Rs 5 crore to support and care for the families of these lost warriors. We hope with our little help, the families of these police warriors, can have some support for the future.”
Disclaimer: This media release is auto-generated. The CSR Journal is not responsible for the content.
The Scream by Edvard Munch portrays a state of anxiety and depression brilliantly
Each one of us has dealt with anxiety and depression at one time or another. However, the acid test is; when is the anxiety containable and when does it become something that grips you and obstructs regular healthy functioning. When does it never abate, continuously “spiking” leaving you frightened, uncertain and hopeless.
Norwegian artist Edvard Munch’s famous painting The Scream, is a telling illustration of this feeling.
The Scream is an iconic painting by Edvard Munch that portrays a state of anxiety and depression brilliantly
We are indeed passing through unprecedented times. That the world is in ‘Shut Down’ mode is something beyond living memory.
The novel coronavirus is a microscopic enemy that attacks the human body causing macro havoc. It has raised anxiety and depression levels all over the world, spiked by continuous news of its deadly contagion. The virus, itself not being a living thing, has this mechanism called spikes over its surface – the corona. It also has a membrane protein and an envelope protein, both of which can be dissolved by soap suds, thereby disintegrating the virus. Hence the preventive measure of washing our hands thoroughly. The spikes, hook into a receptor cell in the human body. It then binds and fuses with the membrane of the receptor cell, taking over the function of the host cell, to replicate and multiply itself.
This seems to me so similar to the way anxiety enters and takes over our minds. We all have early unresolved anxieties which – if life has been kind to us and we have had a fairly stable and supportive environment/parenting – remain asleep and inactive. However, when some untoward event like this pandemic occurs, it can spike onto dormant anxieties and take over the mind, flooding it and multiplying it, both in magnitude, as well as spreading itself to other non-affected areas. However, the problem arises when we are unable to differentiate the real from the imagined. And even if we are conscious of the differentiation, we cannot stop it and are helpless in the grip of its fear.
The present situation leaves all of us in fear of this invisible, invidious and hostile microorganism. It can come from anywhere and from anybody. This is often the case with anxiety. At its very base, it threatens either our own lives/well-being or that of the ones we love and matter to us. The world as we know it, changes. It makes for deep insecurities across the board, in many ways for all, young and old. For many, the anxiety and depression that the mind will not allow itself to know, will be expressed through the body with physical symptoms. The line between the physical and the psychical will be blurred; what the mind cannot bear to think will be expressed in bodily symptoms.
The anxiety may take on various forms; conflicts with close relations or other people; frustration with the situation, may be vented in some other place, lethargy and an inability to move forward; feeling depressed and immobile; putting once amiable and compatible relations at risk. It also creates great diffidence with a changing and uncertain future and overwhelms us with feelings of helplessness and despair overcoming hope, impeding any positive actions we might need to take. The Lockdown has increased fears of isolation, and unreachability.
Throughout life, we give up one thing in order to move on to the other. This is the given order of things. Change will and does happen. Our mental and physical health depends on this adaptability. We need to break this ‘membrane’ and ‘envelope’ of this anxiety of loss, in order to dismantle it and keep our minds safe from its invasion. Psychoanalytic therapy is a great help in being able to sift our own anxieties and place them where they belong. It helps us to understand thoughts and feelings deep within ourselves and to correlate what belongs inside and what is outside. Also to know that we are not alone.
In these times, just as all of us are taking measures to protect and strengthen our bodies, we should also be aware and take measures of protecting and strengthening our minds. We need to have an open spirit of enquiry and rational thinking and not allow it to be spiked by panic. Should you feel stressed, anxious or depressed, seek the assistance of those that have the willingness, capacity and knowledge to help you. To seek help and admit you need help is a Strength of reality thinking and not a Weakness.
Minnie Dastur is Senior Training Analyst (Adult & Child) at the Psychoanalytic Therapy and Research Centre (PTRC), a premier training institute for child and adult therapy. She is a member of the Tavistock Society of Psychotherapists. As a member of the China Committee of the International Psychoanalytic Association, she has conducted teaching workshops in Wuhan, Beijing and Shanghai for Chinese psychoanalytic candidates on Body-Mind-Body psychic functioning, Countertransference and the work of Wilfred Bion.
Views of the author are personal and do not necessarily represent the website’s views.
Thank you for reading the column. Please drop a line and help us do better.
Given the rise in COVID-19 cases in Krishna District, HCL today announced that it is enhancing the COVID-19 isolation and treatment facilities in the district in partnership with Doctors for You (HCL Foundation’s NGO partner) and the district administration. HCL’s support is a part of the State’s plans to increase COVID-19 care facilities in the Krishna District to manage the rising number of infections.
HCL’s support is aimed at providing vulnerable communities in Vijayawada access to early screening and treatment. For this, HCL will set up two 50-bed COVID-19 Centres, with both isolation and treatment facilities, at the District Hospital in Machilipatnam and Area Hospital in Gudivada in June 2020. The two Care Centres will provide L-1 and L-2 bed facilities, to help with early management of positive cases.
HCL’ support will also include providing two Ventilators to treat critical cases. Additionally, PPE kits to the health care workers and hygiene kits to the vulnerable population in the city will be provided to curb the spread of the virus.
HCL’s NGO partner DFY, which provides medical relief and healthcare support to vulnerable communities, will follow a three-step model to Trace and Test cases, followed by Treatment and Strengthening of the overall health system to combat the rising number of COVID-19 cases. DFY will first identify suspected cases in slums and among migrant laborers through community awareness programs via their Mobile Medical Units (MMU’s). The suspected or symptomatic cases will then be sent to the isolation and treatment units. For strengthening the health system, DFY will conduct regular online training of healthcare professionals on COVID-19 management and prevention.
Shri A. Md. Imtiaz, Collector & District Magistrate, Krishna District (Vijayawada City) said, “The underprivileged communities are the most vulnerable to the COVID-19 infection. Thus, with HCL’s support, we will reach out to help migrant workers as well as people living in remote areas or slums in Vijayawada with timely testing and treatment facilities. The COVID Care Centres being supported by HCL will provide a clean and hygienic environment for isolation and treatment to the needy in these challenging times.”
Disclaimer: This media release is auto-generated. The CSR Journal is not responsible for the content.
Recent reports indicate that after an initial dip, violence against women has been steadily rising with the relaxation of the COVID-19 lockdown. There has been a significant increase in cybercrime against women, especially sextortion where “caged criminals” have been targeting them online. The most alarming trend has been of rapes being committed by family, friends, and neighbours. According to experts, reduced mobility, confinement within the household and lack of social connectivity during the outbreak has only changed the nature of sexual violence temporarily and there is bound to be a surge in the number of rape cases as the country opens up further.
Taking note of the expected surge in rape & sexual offences as the COVID-19 restrictions are gradually lifted, subject matter experts from fields of criminal law, forensics, and policy, came together with luminaries from the civil society on a common platform calling for active measures to raise awareness for a citizen’s role in combating rape and expediting justice through forensic DNA technology.
This message was supported by Girl Up, an initiative of the United Nations Foundation, a movement to advance the rights of adolescent girls around the world. Members of the forum underlined the need for public consciousness on the subject, not only to put sexual predators behind bars but to also deter such crimes.
Addressing the forum, Aditi Arora, Country Manager, Girl Up India said, “Violence against women and girls is a global pandemic and affects 1 in 3 women in their lifetime. It stems from unequal power relationships within families, communities, and states. As advocates for the rights, skills, and opportunities of every girl, Girl Up leaders are developing girl-led solutions to combat gender-based violence in their own lives and communities – from addressing sexual assault through advocacy and the creation of safe spaces, to developing tech solutions that build community awareness – but there is still so much more to do. Girl Up India is honoured to partner with Ogilvy and GTH-GA to spread the word on the use of DNA technology for combating heinous crimes like rape and work to dismantle rigid gender norms and stereotypes.”
Emphasising on the importance of heightened awareness for DNA forensics as a deterrent during these times, Nishtha Satyam, Deputy Country Representative, UN Women India said, “The conviction rate in cases of rape and sexual assault are very low, with only about one in 4 rape cases resulting in a conviction. This further amplifies endemic impunity for sexual offenders across the country. From a prevention perspective, increasing the certainty of conviction can act as an effective deterrent. DNA forensic technology can be used to identify offenders with incredible accuracy, make a case water-tight, and increase rates of prosecution.”
Sr Advocate, Supreme Court of India, Vivek Sood added, “Delay, rampant perjury by witnesses, apart from separating the chaff and grain from the evidence are amongst the challenges being faced by the criminal courts today. Though DNA evidence has arrived, the courts must insist on using it in many more cases than the present numbers.”
Addressing apprehensions over how the fear of being caught can encourage sexual predators to commit murder and destroy evidence, forensic expert Dr Vivek Sahajpal pointed out that killing and burning bodily evidence does not prevent DNA extraction and conviction of the guilty. There is always a good chance of getting some biological traces like skin cells, hair, and blood of the accused from the nail crevices of the victim and from the crime scene.
Despite rising crime, declining conviction rates, and an unprecedented backlog of cases in courts, there is huge unmet potential for DNA casework in India. Official statistics show a dramatic increase in the number of crimes against women, which have shot up from 24,923 in 2012 to 33,356 in 2018 – a jump of 34 per cent. As per NCRB data, one woman is raped every 15 minutes in India, whereas only one in four reported rape cases results in conviction.
Over the last couple of years, increasing awareness of forensic DNA technology in India has led to the doubling of the number of DNA tests conducted in criminal cases from 10,000 cases in 2017 to nearly 20,000 in 2019.1 However, despite growth in the number of profiles being tested, the absolute volume remains low, especially in crimes against women and children.
The webinar was co-hosted by Girl Up and Ogilvy as part of an ongoing initiative #DNAFightsRape that was launched on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women last year to raise awareness for application of DNA forensics in expediting justice for women and children who’ve been victims of sexual violence. The campaign has been mobilising the youth with symbolic ‘Don’t Wash, Don’t Clean. Save the Evidence’ T-shirts to bring home the message.
Disclaimer: This media release is auto-generated. The CSR Journal is not responsible for the content.
The United Nations Global Compact today launched the “Leadership for the Decade of Action” report in collaboration with Russell Reynolds Associates, a leading leadership advisory and search firm.
The report sets out to discover what can be learned from business leaders who are integrating sustainability across strategy, operations and stakeholder engagement and what this means for how board and C-suite leaders are selected. It reveals an urgent need for transformational business leaders who look beyond near-term profits to make the long-term sustainability and resilience of our world a top business priority—both within and beyond their firms and broader ecosystems.
The report will be presented by Lise Kingo, CEO and Executive Director, United Nations Global Compact, and Clarke Murphy, CEO, Russell Reynolds Associates, at the UN Global Compact 20th AnniversaryLeaders Summit on 15 June. Their presentation will be followed by a panel discussion with Jim Hagemann Snabe, Chairman, Maersk and Siemens and Ilian Mihov, Dean, INSEAD. Further details can be found here.
The world is not on track to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 and the COVID-19 pandemic has further exposed the fundamental weaknesses in our global systems. There is now a significant opportunity for boards and C-suite leaders to place sustainability at the center of corporate purpose and strategy. However, analysis by Russell Reynolds Associates reveals that sustainability experience or mindset is a requirement in only 4 percent of non-executive and senior executive appointments today.
Lise Kingo, CEO and Executive Director of the UN Global Compact, said: “Transforming our world is all about leadership. As we set out to recover better from COVID-19, the fragile nature of our progress to meet the 2030 deadline to transform our world means that incorporating sustainability across business strategy and operations is not only the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do. Enlightened CEOs and board members know that to succeed you need to be sustainable. We need leaders everywhere to step up their ambition and become agents for sustainable change. This is the moment for top management and boards to ensure that these critical competencies are represented and developed across the organization.”
Clarke Murphy, Chief Executive Officer of Russell Reynolds Associates, said: “Sustainable leadership is not a ‘nice to have’. It is a critical business imperative, increasingly recognized by all stakeholders around the world, including shareholders, consumers, employees, governments and communities. As the COVID-19 crisis has laid bare, the business world has a critical role to play in tackling the persisting challenges in our societies and economies. We are calling for a new type of business leader—one who can drive long-term growth by integrating sustainability into business strategy. Russell Reynolds Associates will work with organizations to make sustainability part of the DNA of their leadership teams.”
To identify how organizations can make sustainability central to their organization’s culture and leadership, Russell Reynolds Associates and the UN Global Compact carried out in-depth interviews and background analysis on a group of close to 60 sustainability pioneers—CEOs and board members from across continents and industries with a notable track record of focusing on and making progress towards sustainability goals in tandem with commercial results.
The analysis defines the characteristics, actions and differentiating leadership attributes that fuel sustainable leaders’ success. They combine a sustainable mindset with a set of differentiated leadership attributes:
Multi-level systems thinking—They incorporate the interplay of business, societal and environmental systems and drive decisions that turn sustainability into a competitive advantage.
Stakeholder influence—They do not seek to manage stakeholders, rather they actively include them in defining and actioning decision
Disruptive innovation—They possess the courage to challenge traditional approaches and cut through bureaucracy to drive the disruptive innovation needed to do away with the profitability- sustainability trade-o
Long-term activation—They do not simply have an orientation towards the long term, they set bold sustainability goals and rigorously drive concerted action in their pursuit.
Minnie Dastur is Senior Training Analyst (Adult & Child) at the 
