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Weekend warriors
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Corporate Social Responsibility is the fastest growing currency in corporate Hyderabad, finds SYEDA FARIDA
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SHANKAR KAMBHAPATY leads the technical architecture group at Satyam Private Limited. He also steers the Magnificent 7 or Weekend Warriors team of software engineers working on literacy drive in government schools. Conventional best practices like plan, matrix and goal are put to use. "We drive the project as we would have a software product," he says. "At the moment, software engineers are sitting with primary school teachers at the Sarva Shikhsha Abhiyan training with volunteers of Pratham foundation to get the hang of the training," adds Kambhapaty.
About the same time, Mitr, the internal voluntary group at Sierra Atlantic is busy. "Mitr takes up fixed development objectives every month. We ensure we make right contributions — material such as warm clothes for winter, food articles when the team visits destitute homes or orphanages. The company also matches the collections from the staff on aid work, such as for the recent surgeries of six children we sponsored in NIMS or contribution for the tsunami relief work," says Sanjay Jesrani, vice president Sierra Atlantic.
Aviva Life Insurance, likewise takes pride in its community development, environment and literary initiatives. "One of the key successes has been the literacy initiative, where the Aviva volunteers teach students at schools run for the economically weaker sections of society. Some of the brighter students have even been sponsored for coaching classes to pursue higher studies," says Stuart Purdy, MD, Aviva Life Insurance, India.
Corporate Social Responsibility or CSR in short is the latest buzzword in capital world. Livelihood programmes, urban health posts in slums, waste management and more, the agenda for the weekend is wide. And the intranet serves as the bulletin board for postings.
Professional benefits
CSR also helps professionally. "Leadership, organisational abilities and communication skills in play during development related activities gather brownies useful during appraisals. And awards, such as employee of the month," says Jesrani. Many organisations are jumping on the CSR band wagon in town and its not just a PR or tax saving exercise. "Most of us who have gone to private schools and come from well to do families. As IT professionals we believe we can contribute to social cause and that it is not somebody else's responsibility," explains Kambhapaty.
And there are challenges. "When we initially started, people were curious, wondering how we could make an impact. When we distributed prizes and gifts on Republic Day in the government school we wanted to recognise their capabilities and built enthusiasm. It was an unforgettable event. Similarly, in the area of crafts capacity building and managerial competence leveraging on existing capabilities we got the traditional karigars working on zardosi in old city assemble electronic products. It's working," says Balaji Utla, head Satyam Foundation.
"By and large many corporations want to. Organisations come forward to adopt government schools, which function without building and basic amenities. And the task is delicate and difficult. We come in as a vehicle of `how to go about'. We have 25 organisations working with us at the moment. We involve them in action — volunteering or funding," says Jaya George, head civil society cell, Naandi foundation.
Did we say organisations with a heart? Way to go Hyderabad.
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