RAJSHREE BIRLA OUTLINES ADITYA BIRLA’S GROUP RECIPE FOR CSR SUCCESS
Silver Jubilee Celebrations of FICCI Ladies Organisation Kicked Off
NEW DELHI, July 7, 2008. Mrs. Rajshree Birla, Director, Aditya Birla Group & Chairperson, The Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development, today outlined the four pillars of the group’s success in the uplift of underprivileged communities. Inaugurating the silver jubilee function of the FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO), Mrs. Birla said: “We at the AB Group look at social projects with the same kind of lens as business projects and making our social vision a part of our business vision. This enables us to keep the focus razor sharp.” Secondly, having definite plans on community projects and getting the work audited by an outside agency has help the company to gauge the effectiveness of its work and provided the inputs on what more needs to be done. Thirdly, linking up with like-minded bodies and networking with the government has enhanced the company’s role as a change catalyst. Mrs. Birla said, “Not only putting our own money but accessing funds earmarked by the government for various schemes enables us to enlarge our reach.” She exhorted women entrepreneurs to take up the challenge of dowry deaths, harassment of women, child marriages, and gender bias. “We are on track and with a greater sense of urgency and empathy we should be able to alter the situation,” Mrs Birla declared. Mrs. Anuradha Goel, President, FLO, noted that the organisation was geared to take on the challenges of energy and water sourcing and conservation, infrastructure, education and literacy of all citizens at pre-school through higher secondary, global warming and its effects on agriculture and water supply, destruction of the environment as a consequence of rapid economic and population growth and controlling waste and pollution.
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She said, at the grass roots level, FLO was teaching women how to turn their household waste, manure into biogas to meet their fuel needs for cooking. “We will plant 25,000 trees this year in Delhi and in our chapters throughout the country, “ she said. FLO, she said, was conducting workshops in starting micro enterprises in various crafts, a mentoring programme through the FLO membership, a lecture series of high achieving women and launching a “Save the Girl Child’ campaign throughout the country. Mrs. Margaret Alva, General Secretary, All India Congress Committee, in her address, underlined the need to create alternative markets for products of SSI units run by women. The mall culture, she said was swamping the small producer-trader and therefore there was urgent need to create marketing outlets for rural arts and crafts turned out by women. Mr. Harshpati Singhania, Senior Vice President, FICCI, pointed out that the challenge before modern India was extend the power and self confidence realised by women entrepreneurs to rural India. Increasing women’s empowerment and rights was vital, he said, if India was to achieve inclusive growth. Mr. Yash Chopra, Chairman, Yas Raj Films, presented mementoes to past Presidents of FLO. The function was also addressed by Kavitha Chitturi, Senior Vice President, FLO, Mrs. Abha Dalmia, Past President, FLO and Ms. Shallu Jindal, Convenor, Silver Jubilee Committee of FLO.
MEDIA DIVISION
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