Over 50 business
leaders attend the CEO Conclave organised by Habitat for Humanity India
Mumbai, October 10, 2016: In a rare gesture
of solidarity, over 50 CEOs from India committed to work together and pledged
support to several initiatives by Habitat for Humanity India - a non-profit
organization - working towards eliminating substandard poverty housing and open
defecation in India.
A
clear roadmap has been established where corporate
India , through their Corporate
Social Responsibility (CSR) funds and initiatives, will work with Habitat for
Humanity India in building homes and sanitation units for those in dire need
for improved housing and sanitation facilities.
The
day-long event culminated in the program – ‘Impact Asia and India
Builders Night’ and included a charity auction of sports and film
memorabilia in aid of widows of the famine-struck regions of Maharashtra .
The auction included signed boxing gloves of MC Mary Kom, signed guitar by The
Beatles legend Paul McCartney, First Day Cover on World Aids Day signed by
Nelson Mandela, signed boxing robe of Muhammed Ali, A football jersey signed by
entire Barcelona Football Team and football shoe signed by the legendary
football player Lionel Messi.
Speaking
on the occasion Mrs. Rajashree Birla,
Chairperson - The Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural
Development and Chairperson of Habitat’s IndiaBUILDS Advisory Committee said,
“A decent roof over one's head is the most important factor for a human
being. A home gives a tremendous sense of security, spurs education, lays the
foundation of a sustainable livelihood and builds a fine family. In
India ,
the housing scenario is a matter of concern. We need 50 million houses in
India , of which, 25 million units are required
in urban India
alone. We, at Habitat for Humanity, endeavor to bridge this gap, albeit in a
very small way. We are committed to cross the 100,000 homes for the homeless by
2020,"
At
this conclave, heads of companies such as Eicher Motors, GSK, Mphasis, Willis
Processing India, shared their views and showed commitment to eliminate the
issue of substandard poverty housing and open defecation by joining hands with Habitat
for Humanity India.
Rajan Samuel, Managing Director, Habitat for Humanity
India
said, “We intend to unite all the decision makers,
thought leaders and influencers to discuss issues related to local and regional
poverty housing. The discussion by intelligentsias will stir a debate on
serious challenges of housing and sanitation. Through this, the identification
of the problems stemming on poverty housing will help to come up with solution
which in turn will drive systemic policy change. At Habitat we are committed to
build strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter”.
Besides
sanitation and poverty housing, the representatives of government agencies,
academia, poverty-reducing groups, housing organisations, volunteers and
business leaders discussed that how they can create a unique business model
which can attract the institutional partnership and can plug the affordability
gap.
The
charity event was sponsored by the Aditya Birla Group, Reliance Industries
Limited, KKR - Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, Citi
India and ASK Group.
The
event also marked the end of Habitat Week; a series of programs organized by
Habitat for Humanity India in Delhi
and Mumbai from October 2 to October 7, 2016 to mark the UN World Habitat Day
celebrated to reflect on the basic human right to adequate shelter.
Habitat’s work is aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and
focuses on the call to “ensure access for all to adequate, safe and
affordable housing and basic services and to upgrade slums.”
Habitat
for Humanity India works in the rural, tribal and urban areas of over 20 states
of the country to provide improved shelter and sanitation facilities to the
families in need. Among its recent initiatives, Habitat
India has collaborated with the Delhi Urban Shelter
Improvement Board (DUSIB) and World Vision
India to build better civic
amenities, improved sanitation, hygiene and waste management facilities for
developing the infrastructure in nine slums known as jhuggi jhopadi clusters. In the Adarsh Basti Project
initiated by the Government of Delhi, Habitat for Humanity India has been
identified as the nodal agency to improve the living conditions of over 33,000
people living in these nine jhuggi jhopadi clusters. Habitat for Humanity India
will serve as a bridge between the local community and the government
departments to deliver enhanced services for the urban poor.
In
Savda Ghevra, an urban resettlement colony of
Delhi , resettled families from various slums
have been provided with individual household latrines in their newly
constructed houses.
In
Mumbai, Habitat for Humanity India has entered into a partnership with the
Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) for constructing 10 community sanitation
complexes. One such sanitation complex was inaugurated in Thane. Habitat has
also undertaken school sanitation projects in Rajasthan, Bangalore ,
Delhi , Maharashtra
and Haryana impacting over 10,000 children.
Warm regards,
Deepali Rawat
Prana PR Pvt Ltd
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