The Better India » Corporate social responsibility

Mirakle Couriers: Career Haven for the Deaf

Ranjini Sivaswamy — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 09:32:15 +0000

We hear a lot about corporate social responsibility where companies contribute to the welfare of the society. But here is an organization where social responsibility is not just a residue of its profits, but the core purpose that guides its existence. Mirakle Couriers was born with a business idea that will support the livelihood of deaf adults.

There is no charity here, it is business, it is employment for the deaf. Mirakle simply touched the biggest pain point in the lives of the disabled, their employment. Their talents are all hidden and forgotten. The possibility of them being able to do something is never given a thought and we have them excluded from the mainstream. Moved by this very stigma, Dhruv Lakra founded Mirakle Couriers and invested his trust on the abilities of the deaf.

Based out of Mumbai, this organization started off with just two deaf boys in their team. Now the team has grown to 35 boys and 15 girls. The boys are entrusted with the responsibility of delivering the couriers while the girls work at the office. The employees at Mirakle have come in from different backgrounds and have stories to share that will tear our hearts apart. Abusive families, exploiting work environments, seclusion and what not. But their lives have changed. They are today earning members of their families. They are respected, independent and they love the job they are doing.

Bhupesh, an employee at Mirakle who has suffered a horrific past says: “I asked a deaf friend if he could help me find a job. He took me to meet Dhruv. Now that I am at Mirakle, I can finally feed my brother and myself. I give thanks to my God everyday for this opportunity. I am the only deaf person in my whole village and I have no friends. Life is stressing there. Mirakle provides me with friends who are all deaf like me. I can finally talk to someone like me, share a joke and just enjoy life.”

The biggest success of Mirakle Couriers lies in being able to give a respectable livelihood to the deaf. Mirakle goes to schools for the deaf to hire its people. The word about the opportunity at Mirakle has spread among the deaf with more and more people coming to join in. This unique people force is bringing success to the business which in return is spreading silent smiles of happiness.

You could help Mirakle Couriers by urging your company to use the services of this novel initiative. Know more about them at http://www.miraklecouriers.com/. Also, read their blog http://miraklecouriers.wordpress.com/.

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Interview: Janet Yegneshwaran – Trees For Free

Rahul Anand — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 02:47:47 +0000

Everyone knows the benefits of planting trees: cleaner air, good monsoons, no global warming. But most of us don’t get the time or sometimes don’t really have the inclination to go that extra mile to plant a tree. Trees for Free is a wonderful organization that has taken up this initiative in Bangalore. They involve volunteers and companies, inspiring them to give back to the environment. Corporate houses can become a Tree Planting Member as part of their CSR activity and adopt a cause whose benefits will be felt across the globe for years and generations to come.

Individuals can become a ‘Tree Planting Member’ , by donating a minimum of 100 Rupees for 1 tree a month.

Here’s an interview with Janet Yegneshwaran, Founder of Trees For Free.

Q: What was the inspiration behind Trees For Free ?

In 2005 when I wanted to start a Trust in memory of my late husband, there was lot of tree cutting in Bangalore and everybody were crying over this. So I thought it is better to be positive instead of crying over the felled tree, and started planting trees.

Q: What was your background before starting Tree For Free? The obstacles you faced in setting up the organization?
I was a landscape artist before I started Trees For Free. Initially I had to go around the neighbourhood with friends, and volunteers, knocking on doors to ask them if they would look after a tree planted in front of their house. Most of them were for it except a few who preferred keeping the place for parking of their car and some of them did not like the idea of a tree in front of their house as the trees shed a lot of leaves and they will have the added job of sweeping the leaves.

Q: I believe a lot of us want to plant trees, but we don’t know where to plant, how does Tree For Free scout a site for plantation?
Earlier we used to go door-to-door. Now with the media exposure, people who want to plant trees, who have found places for planting and who are ready to look after the saplings planted have started contacting us. Now our role is to only plant it for them.

Q: What is the kind of socio economic, ecological impact the organization is generating?
People who want to plant trees inside their compound, on their roads and nearby schools etc., and who have no monitory support or do not have the know-how of planting can now contact our organisation and we plant it free for them.

Similarly, Corporates and green groups who want to plant, who can afford the expenses but do not know how and where to plant, can come to us. We will not only show them the place to plant where it will be looked after, we will keep the place and the saplings ready for planting .They and their representatives can come to the site of planting and plant it themselves. In case they are unable to, they can still sponsor the saplings and our volunteers will plant it for them.

Lot of trees are being cut in Bangalore, almost every day and lots more are on the anvil. Our aim is to plant trees all over Bangalore wherever they could be looked after, to see that
the greenery is brought back to Bangalore.

Q: What has been the general feedback of volunteers?

All our volunteers are very happy to plant trees. Most of the places where we plant are filled with debris and filth all over. When they start planting, in the frenzy they do not see any of these. They put their hands without even thinking and plant trees. The feedback is great and they spread word about our website to their friends in turn.

Q: Any corporate partners, sponsors you are associated with?
Many corporates have been partnering with us - Yahoo! Software Development Pvt. Ltd. plants trees for the birthdays of their employees. Harley Davidson has collected fees for test drives for Trees for Free. Aditya Birla Group has kept a portion of the price on Van Heusen Cotton Shirts for tree planting. Once, the car in which we were carting the saplings broke down before time and the Volunteers and Applied Materials India Pvt., Ltd, have come forward to contribute and we have been presented with a 5-seater Bolero Camper Gold with a tipper to facilitate transport of trees, workers, tree-guards and tools.

Shell, Perot Systems, WPA World Class Service, Applied Materials, India Pvt. Ltd., etc., have all been sponsoring the tree planting.

Q: Could you explain the various initiatives Trees For Free is running? Like the Gift For Free ?
CSR is a huge part of what we do. We also have Gift Certificates which we issue to people who want to sponsor trees and gift them to friends.

Q: How do you plan to take it forward?
There is a lot of space in Bangalore for trees and lots more are becoming empty every day. People from Schools, Colleges, Hospitals, Gated Communities etc., have started coming forward to ask us to plant trees for them. We have been covering a distance of only 30 kms
from the city center so far. Now we have started getting requests from places like Ramanagaram (a district near Bangalore).
We have already planted trees in a village school in Muthur, 75 kms away from Bangalore and in Malur. We hope to take this initiative to many further places. We also hope that Corporates come forward
to sponsor bamboo tree-guards so that we can start planting on the roadsides wherever people have shown us the place to plant.

The Better India Team wishes Trees For Free all the best in making this country green.

Contact Details

Site: http://www.treesforfree.org/
Blog: http://treesforfree.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/treesforfree/

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Entries Invited – Innovation for India Awards

Dhimant Parekh — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 10:17:33 +0000

Mumbai, August 26, 2009: Marico Innovation Foundation announces its 3^rd edition of the Innovation for India Awards to be held on 12^th March 2010 in Mumbai. A significant initiative by Marico – the “Marico Innovation Foundation” was founded in 2003, with an objective to fuel Innovation in India. Under the leadership of stalwarts like Dr. Ramesh Mashelkar, the Foundation focuses on providing the country with a belief that Innovation is a crucial way to leapfrog into the center stage of global business leadership.

Over years the Foundation has effectively played the role of a catalyst by creating knowledge through years of in-depth research, multiplying this knowledge through various platforms and recognizing breakthrough innovations through its Innovation for India Awards.

The Awards nomination process for this year has started and applications are being invited till September 2009. Click here to Apply Now

Innovation for India Awards is the prestigious recognition for business and Social entities that have done some amazing breakthroughs that could hold lessons across all sectors. This year the Innovation for India Awards has added a new category- Public Services, which includes all innovations by Central or State government or any wing of the government including public-private partnership has innovated and have displayed a ‘clear public impact’.

So far the Awards have been recognizing and applauding outstanding leadership with innovative focus in Business and Social arena. Its intent is to reward projects and businesses that make a real difference to India and community at large. Based on the criteria of uniqueness, impact & scalability, ‘India’s Best Innovations” are declared at these Awards. Over the last 3 years, 23 such innovators have been recognized which includes organisations like Kirloskar Brothers, BOSCH MICO and Titan Industries Limited & Azim Premji Foundation, MV Foundation, Trichy Police and Kudambashree, ITC IBD, Evalueserve. Tata Motors was recognised for their spirit of Innovation – The NANO by being bestowed with the Global Game Changer Award at the 2008 Awards.

What do the Winners Get? The Award winners will get felicitated in Mumbai in the presence of industry stalwarts and some of the best innovators in the country. Besides a a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh, the Foundation would also extend its illustrious Governing Council’s support as mentors to the winners and a platform with VCs and angel investors.

Any Indian company, social organization, government body and/or individuals who have successfully conceptualized and nurtured a brilliant idea, made it work and brought it to market is eligible to participate.

The three categories under which Innovation will be awarded are – Business Innovation (Products/Services, Business Model and Innovation in social space by a business organisation) and Social Innovation (innovation by a social organisation). Public Services Innovation (innovations by Central or State governments or any wing of the government including public-private partnership)

The guiding principles for selection of Awards are transparent, Qualitative, Consistent and Fair. A high profile jury consisting of India’s most respected and eminent personalities, will judge the Innovations on the basis of its uniqueness, sustainability and scalability through a rigorous four-stage selection process.

For the purpose of evaluation of candidates, and architecting the awards process, the Marico Innovation Foundation uses Erehwon Innovation Consulting’s path-breaking innovation methodology and framework. This methodology has been used successfully for innovation evaluation across various platforms globally.

Dr R A Mashelkar,FRS CSIR Bhatnagar Fellow, National Chemical Laboratory & Chairman of The Marico Innovation Foundation states that “The Foundation’s mission is to encourage Innovation in India, by providing the nation with a belief that Innovation is indispensable and is the way to leapfrog India into the center stage of global business leadership. Through these awards we want to commemorate projects and businesses that make a real difference to the country and community at large.”

“Innovation in India is a key theme in India’s global repositioning as an emerging economic superpower. With the second edition of the Innovation for India awards, the Marico Innovation Foundation seeks to continue to fuel innovation in India- amongst other achievements, let Indian businesses build a cascade of successful and enduring Indian Global brands,” believes Mr. Harsh Mariwala, Council Member, Marico Innovation Foundation & Chairman and Managing Director, Marico Limited

Photographs from last year’s event:

(from the left)-Actor & Director, Aamir Khan, Ad-Guru & Lyricist, Prasoon Joshi in discussion with Mr. Arun Maira, Chairman

Mr. Sam Balsara, CEO Madison, awarded Mr. Kunwer Sachdev, CEO Su-Kam Power Systems Ltd. for Innovation in Business Process

About Marico Innovation Foundation

The Marico Innovation Foundation was created in March 2003 under the stewardship of Dr. Ramesh Mashelkar. The Foundation’s Mission is to Fuel Innovation in India, by providing the nation with a belief that Innovation is possible and is the way to leapfrog India into the center stage of global business leadership. The Foundation also believes that a framework will enable leverage innovation for quantum growth. The foundation is steered by a governing council that oversees both its vision and direction.

The reach is first envisioned to cover the business community, both professional and entrepreneurial. The reach will soon expand to future business leaders and the general public. The Marico Innovation Foundation is led by its Council Members, who are visionaries like Dr R A Mashelkar, FRS, CSIR Bhatnagar Fellow, National Chemical Laboratory, Anu Aga, Chairman, Thermax, Sam Balsara, CEO, Madison, Ashwin Dani, Vice Chairman, Asian Paints, Ranjan Kapur, Country Manager, WPP, Arun Maira, Chairman, Boston Consulting Group, Harsh Mariwala, Chairman & Managing Director, Marico, K V Mariwala, EX-Director, Marico, Rajiv Narang, Chairman & Managing Director, Erehwon Innovation Consulting, Dorap Sopariwala, Consultant. Visit www.maricoinnovationfoundation.org for more information.

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For Those Who Dare To Dream

Anuradha Parekh — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 11:46:24 +0000

Twenty-five year old Rehana has faced several hardships in her short life thus far. As a nineteen year old, she had to take up the mantle of the household, when her father, a salesman in a local cycle shop, fell seriously ill. The eldest of 4 unmarried sisters, she started stitching clothes for her neighbours to earn a living. Today, she runs a successful clothes boutique and a general store in her village Chandwak, near Jaunpur. Rehana is also the National Winner (North) in the recently concluded Citi Micro Entrepreneur Awards.

Rehana was aided in her progress by the NGO, Nazir Art Seva Samiti, which helped her in getting an initial loan and guidance for setting up a tailoring unit. While providing her with marketing opportunities to expand her reach, the NGO also helped her obtain a second seed capital when Rehana decided to set up a general store in her house. The support provided by the NGO and Rehana’s own determination has changed her life as well as improved lives of others around her.

Presently, Rehana has 5 employees, 3 at her tailoring unit and 2 at the store. She has borne educational expenses for some who have started their own enterprise. She also provides free training to needy women at her boutique and later on engages some of them in the work.

The work done by these NGOs in uplifting the lot of the underprivileged and affording them entrepreneurship opportunities is highly commendable. This is one of the several stories of successful micro entrepreneurs who have been helped by local NGOs to achieve social and economic empowerment. Click here to read the other inspiring tales of struggle and success.

Link Courtesy: Arvind Singh. Thanks a ton!
Image Courtesy: Citi Micro Entrepreneur Awards Brochure

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HUL Sankalp – A Determination To Do Good

Anuradha Parekh — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 12:59:35 +0000

14,000 employees. 40 locations across India. 23,375 hours of community service clocked. This has been the success story of Sankalp – the employee self actualization program at Hindustan Unilever Ltd. In order to mark 75 years of its existence in India, the company decided to devote 1 hour for each day of the 75 years in October 2007. One year later it has surpassed that goal.

HUL Sankalp is a program that allows the employee to register and get associated to a cause or NGO. The back-end support was provided by indianngos.com which was responsible for checking the authenticity of its partner NGOs and for tracking the employee’s commitment. Sapna Agarwal reports in Business Standard:

The programme has now gone beyond the cities to touch lives of people in the rural districts like that of Wad/ Jawahar. Here HUL Mumbai employees travelled 130 km to create awareness on hand wash and hygiene. Similarly, employees have also started involving their family members.

Nair added: “An employee, Crystelle Ellis along with her family clocked over 600 hours of voluntary service at the Little Sisters of the Poor, an old age home in Kolkata. Their activities included cooking, cleaning, serving, washing, helping the invalid to groom themselves and move about apart from helping with office work.”

Such initiatives reconfirm the belief that every person has an innate desire to do good and to give back to the society. They just need the right platform and the initial push. After this, in all probability, they will surprise themselves.

Read the complete article here.

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