 |
GMR-Hyderabad International Airport Limited (GHIAL) CEO P.S Nair awarding prizes at a GMRVF summer camp |
INDIA. GMR Group was last week awarded the ORBIS Award for Corporate Social Responsibility at the OAG Routes Airport Marketing Awards, held in Kuala Lumpur as part of the World Route Development Forum.
GMR Group was recognised for the work that its GMR Varalakshmi Foundation (GMRVF) has undertaken in enhancing the quality of life in the communities living around the new Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) in Hyderabad.
Focusing broadly on education, health, hygiene, sanitation, empowerment, livelihood and community development, the Foundation’s activities and initiatives are spread across different locations in India – Arunachal Pradesh, Bangalore, Chennai, Chandigarh, Delhi, Hyderabad, Haliyal, Mangalore, Orissa, Rajahmundry, Rajam and Uttarakhand.
The other finalists shortlisted for the Award were BAA, Ethiopian Airlines and First Choice Holidays. Delhi International Airports Limited CEO B.S. Shantharaju and GMR Hyderabad International Airport Chief Commercial Officer A. Viswanath accepted the award on behalf of GMR Group.
ORBIS International CEO Richard Donaldson said: “ORBIS is delighted to recognise the tremendous work of GMR Varalakshmi Foundation. Both ORBIS and GMR believe in the long-term, sustainable development of local communities and GMR fully deserves this recognition for their Corporate Social Responsibility agenda”.
On receiving the award GMR Group Chairman G.M. Rao said: “While the recognition is a note of gratitude from the society at large, GMR Group will remember that recognition is only an incidental result and the objective of our work and commitment will always be to contribute in making a difference to the deserving sections of the society with humility, compassion and empathy.”
 |
DIAL Chief Executive B.S. Shantharaju (second from right) and GHIAL Chief Commercial Officer A. Viswanath (far right) accepting the ORBIS Award for Corporate Social Responsibility on behalf of GMR Group at the OAG Routes Airport Marketing Awards |
GMR Varalakshmi Foundation Director Community Services Meena Raghunathan added: “This award is extremely satisfying for us at GMRVF as it validates the commitment of the Group towards inclusive growth and enhancing the quality of life of the under-served sections of the community.
The Airport Marketing Awards are highly prized by airports, as they are voted for by the industry partners and the airline network planning community. The ORBIS Award for Corporate Social Responsibility is given to organisations in the Aviation sector who have contributed substantial work in the community on a sustainable basis.
Here is a summary of just some of the work undertaken by GMRVF at RGIA:
•A Youth and Women Empowerment Project imparting skills training that opens up long-term employment opportunities. The training, supported by the Foundation, aims to facilitate employment or loans from banks so that people can establish their own micro enterprises. To date, approximately 1,000 people have been trained in various skills as a result of the project. The Foundation also tracks the success of the programme and has shown more than an 80% success rate of employment across the youth training programme.
•The adoption of four Government Schools where more than 2,000 children study. They provide good quality teachers, ensure good hygiene levels are maintained and organise tuition classes in the evening.
•Adopting seven Anganwadis (government sponsored child-care and mother-care centers) and running three balawadis (kindergartens) reaching out to more than 250 children.
•Running a mobile medical van which benefits more than 2,000 elderly people of 21 villages around the airport every month.
NOTE: The vital issue of corporate social responsibility is the subject of a special supplement that appears with The Moodie Report Digital Print Edition for October, out at TFWA World Exhibition next week.
 |  |
GMRVF’s team visiting the Open Learning System intervention centre for children with disabilities in Bhubaneswar; the foundation also sponsored 387 children to participate in a maths talent test held at SCSR College in Rajam | |
MORE STORIES ON GMR GROUP
