Ericsson launches connect to learn initiative in india
Ericsson recently announced the launch of its global education -initiative ‘Connect to Learn’ in India. Connect to Learn implements – information and communications technology (ICT) in schools in -re source poor settings, to ensure that children, no matter where they live, have access to learning resources and a quality education. In line with the vision of a -complete 21st Century education for everyone, the programme provides an opportunity for youth to access learning resources that were previously unavailable to them. As a part of the programme, Ericsson has associated with three leading non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in India – Plan International (India Chapter), Smile Foundation and Pratham Education Foundation. The company has launched projects for periods of one to three years, that make a positive impact on the lives of underprivileged students and urban youth in different parts of the country. In terms of creating employment opportunities for underprivileged youth, Ericsson has partnered with Smile Foundation to offer job-oriented skills and placement assistance to underprivileged youth in Delhi/National Capital Region (NCR) and Mumbai. This programme will impart training in basic computers and retail sales management skills, along with proficiency in spoken and written English through 20 centres to be set in Delhi/NCR and Mumbai. The curriculum also includes sessions on personal development, career counselling and placement support.
Samsung India and Govt. Of Bihar sign MOU to set up Technical School
Samsung India Electronics recently signed a memorandum of under-standing (mou) with the directorate general of employment and training, Labour Resource Department, Government of Bihar, to set up a Samsung technical school at the women’s industrial training institute (ITI) digha in patna. the mou was signed by Dulal Chandra Goswami, Hon’ble minister for Labour Resources, Government of Bihar and Rajiv mishra, Vice President, Samsung india electronics. The Samsung Technical School at the women’s ITI Digha will support Bihar’s efforts to tap the opportunities in the growing consumer electronics and mobile phone segments in the country by creating a pool of talented manpower. the technical school will run Samsung’s advanced Repair and industrial skills enhancement (A.R.I.S.E.) programme, providing students trade-specific training on various aspects of repair and troubleshooting for consumer electronic products such as mobile phones, televisions, home and home appliances. students will also get real-time work experience at Samsung authorised service centres and training on soft skills so that they can provide exemplar customer service.
First Step Foundation – addressing the rural needs
The rural and urban divide is increasingly expanding and in the times to come, we will see more and more people migrating to urban spaces and settling down. Amidst the hustle-bustle of this migration to urban areas was born First Step Foundation, an NGO working primarily in Uttarakhand for the betterment of some schools and school going children. The founder of the NGO, a native of Uttarkhand, after spending some years of years of urban life gave a thought to how to give back to his place of roots – and hence the idea gave birth to First Step Foundation. As there has been a dearth of facilities in rural –villages, the founder could not come across a better way to reciprocate than to start it through education, schools and children. Being the fundamental to transform life, the team of First Step Foundation keeps on visiting some select schools in rural Uttarakhand and supporting them in various ways. The foundation has been doing it for the last 5 years. Recently too, the NGO thought to pay routine visit to the state and the occasion was January 26, 2015. The latest visit was an extension of itslast visit which the NGO has made just 6 months ago. In continuation to its last visit, First Step Foundation selected 3 schools in the state this time and decided to set up libraries there. The foundation will provide these select schools books shelfs along with books on various academic courses, personality development, skill building and others. On the occasion, the team distributed sweets to the school children while handed over a few books to the keenly-onlooker students. Speaking at the occasion, the Principal from one of the students said, “First Step Foundation’s work in schools here is highly commendable and I wish if along with the government, more and more people from the urban cities and the indigenous localities would lend their support for such social causes, understanding the needs and requirements of the area, then it will not take much longer to transform places like this.” The NGO is planning to expand its support further and is committed to initiate scholarships and sports material support to these schools in Uttarakhand.
SARTHAK Educational Trust recently celebrated its Annual Day. The purpose was to bring all the stakeholders like the corporate sector, government sector, NGOs, people with disability, families of people with disabilities, friends, mentors and supporters on the same platform and celebrate the end of the year by thanking the supporters and acknowledging its partners with some cultural performances by people with disability, showcasing their talents. Along with various participants and stakeholders, some of the distinguished personalities at the Annual Day were Prof M.B. Athreya – Management Guru and a guide to SARTHAK, Kiran Mehra-Kerpelman, Director, UNIC, Lt Gen Dr. S.P. Kochhar – CEO, Telecom Skill Sector Council, Avnish Awasthi – Joint Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Department of Disability Affairs, Ranjan Chopra, CMD – Team Computers, Dr. Jitender Aggarwal, CEO – SARTHAK et al. After various distinguished guests shared their experiences, the event was followed by cultural performances by people with disabilities. The curtains were brought down for the evening with acknowledging partners and supporters of Sarthak. The event marked the end of the year 2014 and more importantly the beginning of the New year 2015 with higher targets and more challenges and more commitment and dedication.
Tapan Kumar Chand, an Indian mining veteran, has been Chairman and Managing Director of National Aluminium Co. Ltd. (Nalco) since July 27, 2015. He served Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd from September 22, 2010 to July 27, 2015 as Director (Commercial). Mr Chand holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and a Master’s Degree in Arts in Public Administration from Utkal University, Cuttack. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Law from Andhra University, Visakhapatnam and a Diploma in Social Welfare (labour welfare) from University of Calcutta.
His contribution for the growth of Nalco is immense, after joining Nalco in 2015, he had asked his team to renegotiate contracts with the objective of reducing procurement costs by 20 per cent saving Nalco nearly Rs100 crore. He is trying to convince the board to include mining in its vision plan. He also announced investments of $10 billion to be made for a number of projects, including a Greenfield Aluminium Smelter abroad.
He had worked for various segments of the company and had pioneered initiatives during his tenure at Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited, Vishakhapatnam, which had changed the way the firm worked. Some of his initiatives included introduction of a productive work culture, organizational restructuring etc in the field of HR. In 1983 he had joined as a management trainee in Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited, eventually becoming its director in 2010.
In 2007, he joined as the Director (P) of Central Coalfield Limited where his focus remained in the field of HR and brought a paradigm shift. His efforts and initiatives in the areas of corporate social responsibility and welfare earned the company a good name and the membership of UN Global Compact. Exercising his powers as a functional director, he decided all important matters of sales and marking like eauction, forward e-auction, road sales, sales realization, coal linkage through LOA, etc.
Nalco’s CSR projects under him have focused on infrastructure development, healthcare, sanitation, drinking water, education, environmental sustainability, sports, art and culture, community care, livelihood etc. Nalco has all along been committed towards social causes and earmarks 2 per cent or more of its profit before tax for CSR activities. In fact, its commitment towards the marginalized section of the society, has led the organisation to create a dedicated CSR wing in the form of ‘Nalco Foundation’. The Aluminium Major has gone beyond the mandated 2 per cent of profits clause, in its efforts to reach out to the underprivileged section of the society.
There are many success stories which speak volumes of Nalco’s CSR initiatives. It has been doing substantial work in carrying out impactful CSR projects which has been benefiting thousands of people for many years now. The company has come to represent a better quality of life for communities residing in the vicinity of its plants and facilities, for which it has won a number of prestigious awards at national and regional platforms. Truly, “Goodness is the only investment that will never fail” for Nalco.
Mr. Chand won the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for outstanding performance as an executive for his initiatives and efforts to improve the organisation. He was also given J Mathai National Fellowship Award –the Highest Management Award.
In the given market conditions, it is already a challenge to establish and sustain a business in the mother country that you live in and yet more challenging when you scale your business in foreign lands. Each country has its own laws, rules and regulations and comprehending them to operate smoothly and not get into hot bodies with legal authorities is yet another challenge. Factors such as choosing the right location, comprehending the political climate, assessing the economic environment, and understanding the legal framework are essential components for success when venturing into international markets.
Cultural differences and language barriers may pose a trouble but scaling in international markets comes with its own set of opportunities. Global markets allow businesses to tap into new customer bases and significantly boost revenue. International elevates a brand’s profile and reputation, positioning them as a global player, which can strengthen its appeal to investors, partners, and customers worldwide. Businesses are exposed to new ideas, technologies, and customer behaviors. Scaling globally can also allow businesses to reduce their dependence on a single economy during the advent of an economic downturn in one country. In some cases, operating in foreign markets may offer cost advantages, such as lower labor or production costs.
In order to recognize the immense hard work involved in setting up a business abroad or creating a benchmark for foreign working professionals, Indian Achiever’s Forum proudly introduces the Global Achievers’ Award for those who strive to achieve success in national and international markets. One of the primary criteria for this award is that the organization or professionals must have its presence in more than 2 countries. Indian Achiever’s Forum also provides necessary tools, expert’s insights and exposure to young entrepreneurs who wish to take their success to greater heights. By participating in the Global Achiever’s Award, individuals and organizations gain a unique platform to share their success stories, connect with industry leaders, and inspire others to achieve global success.
National CSR Summit & Awards 2018 successfully organised on 2nd August in India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. Gracious presence of Chief Guest:Shri Suresh Prabhu, Hon’ble Union Minister of Commerce, Industry & Civil Aviation, Govt. of India Guest of Honour: Shri Alphons Kannanthanam , Hon’ble Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ministry of Tourism, Shri Ashwini Choubey, Hon’ble Union Minister of State, Health and Family Welfare, H.E. Mr. Dusan Vukic, Deputy Ambassador of Serbia, Mr. Prabhat Singh, MD & CEO, Petronet LNG Limited, Sh. Sunil Shastri decorated the event with dignity.
Other Special Guests were: Ms. Rekha Sharma, Chairperson, National Commission for Women. Padma Shri Dr. K.K. Aggarwal, Mr. Kamal Singh, Executive Director, UN Global Compact Network, Major General R.K. Singh, Security Advisor, Ministry of Home Affairs. More than 200 participants from various PSUs, Corporate, Foundations & NGOs were present at the event.
Padma Bhushan Smt. Rajashree Birla was felicitated with Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Bhaskar Chatterjee, Former DG, IICA & Father of Corporate Social Responsibility in India shared the key takeaways from the event. Parul Soni, Founder & Global Managing Partner,Think Thorugh Consulting; Brig Rajeev Williams, Corporate Head-CSR, Jindal Stainless Ltd.; Ms. Meenakshi Batra, CEO, CAF India, Rema Mohan; CEO, NSE Foundation, Kumar Anurag Pratap, CSR Leader, Capgemini; Rinika Grover, Head CSR, Apollo Tyres; Shipra Sharma, Head CSR, LTI were few of the renowned panelists The event ended with the concluding remarks by Sh. Sunil Sashtri, Chief Patron, Indian Achievers’ Forum• BHEL, Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd., UNO Minda Foundation, CCL, FIAT Motors, HDFC Bank, LTI, Coromandel International Ltd., Tech Mahindra Foundation, Akshaypatra Foundation were few of the recipients of CSR TIMES Award. NBCC, NALCO, Cement Corp of India, TCIL, Dalmia Bharat, Agriculture Skill Council were few of the recipients of Indian Achievers’ Award.
We are happy to share some memorable moments from the recently concluded 44th Indian Achievers’ Seminar on “Make in India: Creating & Enabling Environment for Entrepreneurs” on 20th February, 2018 at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.
The event got overwhelming response with presence of prominent people like, Shri Ninong Eering, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Dr. Yaroslav Tarasyuk, Trade Commissioner, Russian,Shri Sunil Shastri,President, Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Foundation,Ms. Stuti Kacker, Chairperson, NCPCR,Govt of India, Mr. Tapan Kumar Chand, CMD, NALCO and Mr. Harish Chandra, Executive Director, Indian Achievers’ Forum among many more.
The 43rd Indian Achievers’ Award and a seminar on “India’s role in the Contemporary Global Economy”, was held at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. The annual event organised by The Indian Achievers’ Forum saw the participation of people from all walks of life, including, Sr. leaders, diplomat, bureaucrat, entrepreneurs, educationists, etc.
The Indian Achievers’ Forum organised an interactive Seminar titled “Make in India – Prospects & Opportunities” on 6th February 2017 at the prestigious India Habitat Center, New Delhi. The Seminar was inaugurated by Shri Ramdas Athawale, Hon’ble Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment.
With an aim to provide some striking insights of Government’s “Make In India” initiative and the prospects, challenges, best practices, innovations etc. being practiced by India Inc., along with the learnings thereof till date, the theme of the Seminar received overwhelming response from the participants and the speakers alike.
Ms. Radhika Shrivastava spoke about the challenges that are lying ahead of Indian Entrepreneurs as well as the opportunities that they can encash out of those. Shri Ramdas Athawale Hon’ble Minister of state for social justice and empowerment was of the opinion that unless a full-fledged hierarchical support is extended by the authorities concerned, not many entrepreneurs will be willing to come forward for the “Make in India” cause.
The Chief Guest of the event were Shri Ramdas Athawale, Hon’ble Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment. Other key speakers were Mr Jyoti Kalash IAS, Mr. Dusan Vukic, Deputy Ambassador Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in India, Dr. BBL Madhukar, Secretary General of BRICS, Harish Chandra, Executive Director, Indian Achievers Forum spoke about the “Make In India” project at length and was quite inspiring to the audience who generously applauded his deliberation.
The Seminar concluded with the 42nd Achievers’ Award also, where few Entrepreneurs across the country were chosen through a strict process for receiving the “Indian Achievers’ Award” under various categories, such as, Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Best Business Practices Award, Man/Woman of the Year Award, etc. etc. Among the awardees, some of the renowned names were of Mr. Shool Pani singh- Vice Chairman, East India Council, Ms. Radhika Shrivastava, Executive Director, Fortune Institute of International Business, Sumit Singh, Editor-in-Chief Lok Sabha TV and Anil Kumar Jha, Chairman & Managing Director, Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd.
41st National Seminar on Making India. The eventful function was attended by Foreign Ambassadors, Senior Statesmen, Bureaucrats, Veteran Politicians and Business leaders. Sunil Shastri, Shri Anto Antony -Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha, Dr.V P Joy, IAS-Central Provident Fund Commissioner Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation Ministry of Labour & Employment ,H.E. Radu Octavian DOBRE, Charge D’Affaires The Republic of Romania, Mr. Harish Chandra Editor, Achievers’ World, Mr. K.n. Jayaraj and more pledged for the common cause of Nation Building through Education and Entrepreneurship.
