Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Spark Minda Foundation organises a 10-day mega-camp in Noida

Noida, India: Spark Minda Foundation, the CSR arm of leading automotive components manufacturer Spark Minda Group, is hosting a 10-day mega camp in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. Launched on February 1, 2023; the camp aims to empower Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). It is being hosted in partnership with stakeholders including IBDN (CII), ASSOCHAM, SCPwD, Vishwa Yuva Kendra, Youth 4 Jobs, NAB and District Administration, Uttar Pradesh.

The camp, held under the auspices of the Foundation’s National Award-winning flagship programme, Saksham, successfully assisted over 16,000 PwDs with access to prosthetic limbs, orthotics and various other assistive and accessible aid.

Nearly 2000 fitments, including artificial limbs, calipers, crutches, walkers, walking sticks and hearing aids; customised tricycles to promote entrepreneurship and mobility are being distributed during the camp. In addition to these, the team is facilitating UDID registration and employment support for PwDs.

Spark Minda Foundation is also working with Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation (ALIMCO) providing assistive devices/ aids to the eligible PwDs. Spark Minda Foundation team also worked with IIT Bombay and Minda Silca to develop a customised tricycle for income generation.

Spark Minda Foundation Chairperson, Sarika Minda said, “Spark Minda Foundation aims to build an all-inclusive and harmonious society. Saksham is an excellent example of an initiative driven by collaboration and noble intent. This mega-camp marks another milestone for Spark Minda Foundation. I am thankful to all our partners and the whole team of Spark Minda Foundation, the force multipliers who made this happen. We will continue to make similar effort and touch more lives along the way.”

The eligibility of camp attendees was determined following an exhaustive and thorough screening process, with 82 screening camps held across Meerut, Killa Pratikshagadh, Mangolpuri, Sawda, Nandgram, Muradnagar, Haridwar, Delhi NCR, Bulandshahar, Mewat, Agra, Mathura-Vrindavan, Bisrakh, Jewar, Dadri, Surajpur, Rudrapur, Bulandshahar, Ghaziabad, Dadri, Delhi, Noida and Greater Noida.

Saksham was launched by the Spark Minda Group in 2015. Its aim is to empower People with Disabilities through access to assistive and accessible aid, employment support, and UDID registration and skill development opportunities.

The programme has reached over 16,000 PwDs in India, Vietnam and Indonesia. Spark Minda also runs two centers for Empowerment of PwDs in states with the highest number of PwDs – Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. Spark Minda group has also employed around 1000 PWDs across the group and planned to add another 100 through this camp.

Any PwDs looking for support can visit the Noida center, which functions throughout the year and offers services without any costs.

The group aims to reach another 16,000-18,000 PwDs by the year 2025, with the aim of helping them live their lives with dignity and to the best of their abilities. The Group was awarded the National CSR Award in the year 2019 for the Saksham programme.