EDISPHERE Software Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Group.

• Origin of The CSR Group.
• The 'SWADESHI' CSR Model.
• The CSR Activities.
• Miscellaneous - The lessons learnt, Observations, Suggestions.
• Acknowledgments.

Origin of The CSR Group:

EDISPHERE Software's CSR program was initiated on Jan 14, 2007 during inauguration of it's Nagpur office, wherein the Company's managing director, Ajay Sanghi, announced the vision of the CSR program. The Company's CSR group is headed by it's Director (Human Resources), Aneeta Vijayakar, and comprises of Executive Board Members, Advisory Board members who are eminent social workers, and EDISPHERE staff who along with trained facilitators and associates are executing the social responsibility. The group has appointed a full time CSR coordinator for carrying out the CSR activities.

The 'SWADESHI' CSR Model:

The CSR group has established a social responsibility model, based on Mahatma Gandhi's "Swadeshi" principles, which suggests that the social responsibility be first extended to the nearest deprived neighborhood; and hence the Company has taken up the responsibility of making a socio-economic difference in "Takiya", a slum comprising of about 5000 households. The group envisions that this model can be easily replicated by both large and small companies across the nation in their neighborhood to make an organized difference, which otherwise is 'random' by way of 'donations'.

"If every one of us performed his duty to his neighbor, no one in the world who needed assistance would be left unattended to" -Mahatma Gandhi

Gandhiji defined Swadeshi as "that spirit in us which restricts us to the use and service of our immediate surroundings to the exclusion of the more remote." In the context of the CSR, Swadeshi is that spirit in us which requires us to serve our immediate neighbors before others.

The group envisioned that by carrying out social responsibility activities in the neighborhood, it would enable the company to utilize it's resources (financial, equipments, human resources) better, monitor the success of their CSR program better, and also experience the joy of making the social difference on a day to day basis.

As envisioned, EDISPHERE staff members actively and regularly participate in the company's CSR activities, which is often the topic of discussion during lunch breaks. This has immensely helped the company's CSR program since our staff members feel a huge sense of purpose and bonding in what they are doing as part of their normal working; and this has in turn made the company a better place to work.

The CSR group is getting excellent cooperation from Nagpur Municipal Corporation, local corporator, NGOs, social organization such as Rotary International, and local partners such as Pandhripande Computer Institute. The CSR group is overwhelmed with the response from local well-to-do individuals who after learning about the CSR program voluntarily come to assist in the group's activities from time to time.

The CSR Activities.

The CSR group has identified the following activities for execution in a phased manner:

a.Education

The CSR group carried out a survey/research to identify the cause of dropouts in Takiya children. The group has identified that dropouts in children are maximum between 8th to 10th standard mainly due to poor command of English language (spoken and written) and Mathematics, which inhibits further studies and employment. The group has therefore appointed an English and Math teacher for 1st to 10th standard Takiya children, in Takiya library (located in the heart of Takiya), graciously provided by Nagpur Municipal Corporation, who are key associate in the group's activities.

After having worked in Takiya for over 5 years, the Group has identified lack of Internet facility as the major reason for their poor performance and inferiority complex. Further, their creativity skills are hugely suppressed. The Group has therefore started an Innovation Centre in Takiya, which is equipped with high speed internet connection, laptops and programs to flourish creativity in the children. The Innovation Centre is housed in Takiya library (located in the heart of Takiya), graciously provided by Nagpur Municipal Corporation, who are key associate in the Group’s CSR activities.

The group had earlier appointed a full time English and Math teacher for 1^st to 10^th standard Takiya children, which it has discontinued from April 2012, as the belief now is that simply empower the children with Internet facility, motivate them, make them inquisitive/creative; and they will do wonders. Besides, with high speed internet connectivity at Takiya and websites like www.khanacademy.com, www.ixl.com, www.freevideolectures.com, etc., the children can learn from the best of the teachers on demand!

Striking Note - It is very heartening to see 100s of Takiya children coming to study in Takiya library; caring for their career. The CSR group is overwhelmed with the response of Takiya children and their parents; and it envisions that in next couple of years, a critical mass of children will be at par with the mainstream with similar examination scores in the competitive exams, which will help transform Takiya even more rapidly.

b. Health and Hygiene

The CSR group carries out health and hygiene programs from time to time by way of educational documentary films, lectures, notices/posters, anemia detection and eradication camps for teenaged girls, preventing water contamination, etc., in cooperation with Nagpur Municipal Corporation and NGOs.

In the scorching heat of Nagpur summer, every year it results in several residents of "Takiya" suffering from diarrhea, sun stroke, etc. In post rainy season, water accumulation results in diseases related to mosquito bites, contaminated water, etc. The group is formulating a low cost workable plan, in co-operation with the Municipal Corporation to ensure that the residents of "Takiya" do not suffer in summer and post rainy seasons. Women in Takiya will be provided social training to ensure that their household do not suffer.

c. Skills Development for Employment

The CSR group carries out personality development programs, skills in driving, typing, tailoring, beauty parlor, craft, electrician, plumbing, etc. with the help of ITI and local NGOs for self-development and better job-prospects among the youth so that they can earn decent living. For last three years, the Takiya girls have started participating in the ladies Vidarbha Industries Association (VIA) annual fair, where a stall is provided to them for free in which they sell professionally finished craft and have been doing good business.

The CSR group has recognized that women in the slums be empowered by way of employment and education as it benefits the entire household.

d. Social Integration

The CSR group carries out cultural activities such as folk dances by Takiya boys and girls in EDISPHERE's corporate functions, holding cultural evenings in Takiya during festival seasons, etc.; in order to showcase their talent and also to mingle them with the mainstream. Such occasions also provide an opportunity to distribute EDISPEHRE CSR certificates to those who stand out in completions such as drawing competition, essay competition, elocution, etc., which are held from time to time to encourage and also to remove the fear of competition in Takiya children.

The CSR group has recognized that it is important for the Takiya residents to socially mingle with the mainstream to remove inferiority complex and feeling of 'alienation'. Being in the same environment shoulder-to-shoulder would help removing psychological barriers. 

Miscellaneous - The lessons learnt, Observations, Suggestions

• The CSR group carried out a survey in "Takiya", wherein school going children of 9th & 10th standards were given some simple mathematical calculations, such as 1 /2 + 1/3, 1/ 2 - 1/3, etc. and to its horror, most of the students could not perform such simple calculations. This explains why children from such slums are unable to rise. They are going to school and passing up to 9th grade due to negligence of schools but then there is huge drop out in 10th as they haven’t really learnt basic Math so far. The group thought that by improving Math skills in Takiya children would solve problems in other subjects also but it turned out that lack of command in English language is as much responsible for the drop outs. The group therefore appointed a teacher in Takiya to teach and solve their Math and English problems.
• After having experimented with a full time Math and English teacher for 5 years, the group has realized that in order to bring out the best in children it is best to empower the children with high speed Internet connection and other resources so that they get a level playing field with others rather than classroom teaching.
• The group tried to first form a committee of Takiya residents as 'volunteers' to help coordinate some of the activities but most importantly to spread the message across in the households. Several meetings were held with clear deliverables for the next meeting. It was quite disappointing to note that every time for the scheduled meeting someone had to be sent to Takiya to fetch the volunteers, half of whom would not come for one reason or the other. The same deliverables were getting assigned in each meeting and the volunteers kept on getting reduced. The program was leading nowhere. Some of the volunteers wanted to be in the committee since they thought they will get paid for it. The committee idea was ultimately dropped and a full time CSR coordinator was appointed on the company rolls, which helped put the program back on track immediately.
• A full time CSR coordinator (preferably, a woman) should be appointed, who would meet people everyday, listen to their issues and regularly keep carrying out different surveys.
• The group earlier started some teaching activity in a nearby corporation school ("Saraswati School") but the same was soon replaced by offering classes in Takiya library instead since the attendance at school was too low on account of 'apprehension' by Takiya residents with regard to the 'motive'- behind this 'free' education activity. Some even thought that their children would be kidnapped and sent/sold to far off places.
• The group will reinitiate CSR activities in the Saraswati School after improving the school facility and hopefully this time the response would be better since the Takiya residents are now reaping the benefits of the CSR program on a daily basis.
• The learning is that CSR activities should initially be started inside the area to gain confidence of the residents in order to get their participation.
• The CSR program should be free from any political affiliations and political functions in the area should be avoided.
• There was big apprehension in the minds of Takiya residents as to why the company is doing such programs; and what is the benefit to the company. The residents were used to broken promises during election time by politicians (corporators, MLAs and MPs). The residents therefore had good reasons to be apprehensive about the programs. Further - the local political leaders viewed the activity as political ambition of the company's directors. Some thought that the activity is sponsored by government while some thought it is a way to extract money from the government. There were several such accusations. At such time; the group had to keep a very cool head and just stay focused on the activity without getting distracted by such accusations. The residents later understood that the activity was free from any personal gains and then they started to cooperate whole heartedly.
• When the teaching activity was started in the heart of Takiya; there was a big apprehension as to how long the activity will last since Takiya is largely perceived to be full of notorious elements, who would engage in fights, drinking and verbal abuse. No such problems were encountered. In fact; these very so called 'notorious' elements are 'protectors' who ensure that classes run very smoothly.
• The company is fortunate to have two very popular ex-Mayors as advisors, who enjoy excellent reputation of having worked to their potential during their term as Mayor. It immensely helps to have them on Board as Advisors; as they understand the system very well and their word helps in getting cooperation from the government very quickly.
• It immensely helps in getting cooperation from the local municipal body. They should be engaged from the very beginning and kept informed of the activities. But for financial resource, which the group is not looking from them in any case; Nagpur Municipal Corporation has cooperated in everything the group has asked for, including getting Takiya library for running classes, Municipal Corporation School class room for teaching, help in preventing water contamination, help in other health-hygiene programs, etc.
• The CSR group's activities must be initiated based on how much finance the company has for their CSR program. Activities must be planned based on half the funds allotted; since as much funds will get spend on the unplanned activities.

Acknowledgments

The CSR group is grateful to all those without whose help the CSR activities would not have been so successful. The group would like to extend their sincere thanks to :

• CSR Advisors - Mr. Atal Bahadur Singh and Mrs Kunda Vijayakar for their excellent guidance from time to time, meetings with Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), and help in quickly resolving perceived roadblocks in execution of the CSR program. In particular – their enthusiasm is a great source of energy and motivation to the group.
• Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) – for providing Library facility and for their help from time to time
• NGOs - for helping conduct several health hygiene and skills development programs
• Individuals helping Takiya children from time to time (e.g.. English, Science, Internet, Creativity, etc.)
• Corporates – for donating the needed items from time to time (e.g. desk-benches, board, computers, etc.)
• BSNL – for providing high speed internet connection and ensuring that its up and running all the time. Thanks to Shri K.K. Singh, General Manager of BSNL (Nagpur) who not only inaugurated the Innovation Centre at Takiya but also subsequently taking special care that Internet connection at BSNL is always up and running at high speed.
• Mr Prabhakar Warthi - our CSR coordinator, who helps in day to day monitoring of the CSR activities and is a constant source of great value addition. He has very ably taken over the good work started by Mrs Kunda Lapalikar, our earlier CSR coordinator whose untimely demise had left a gaping hole in the CSR program.
• Mrs & Mr Itankar - who runs a Kirana shop opposite Takiya library for her help with distributing registration forms, making Takiya residents aware of the CSR program, putting up CSR notices in the shop, etc.
• Mrs Wadwe from Takiya - for ensuring Takiya library is opened/closed on time and for keeping the library very clean.
• The entire Takiya basti - for their whole hearted support and love; without which it would have been impossible to conduct the group activities.
• Our Customers - for their business, which helps in allocating funds for the CSR activities.