Thaindian News

Gurgaon, July 27 (IANS) Diversified US conglomerate United Technologies Corporation and NGO United Way of Delhi Friday launched a community development initiative aimed at providing development to over 2,000 families of migrant labourers through sustained interventions to improve their education, healthcare and living environment.

The ‘Pehal’ launch was marked by painting the walls of a children’s school at Radha Krishna Mandir at Chakarpur village in lively colors by employee volunteers of United Technologies (UTC), and planting of saplings at the school ground by United Technologies’ management team and Gurgaon municipal commissioner Sudhir Rajpal.

The school provides non-formal education to children of migrant labourers.

The ‘Pehal’ initiative “is aimed at offering holistic development of the targeted community through active volunteering by employees of United Technologies. The initiative is tailor-made to address the needs of the community and aims to benefit over 10,000 individuals. For instance, a bridge course has been designed to enable children who have been deprived schooling catch up on education and learn basic life skills”, a UTC statement said.

“The initiative would also offer periodic job fairs to not only connect them with prospective employers but also apprise them of the skills required for the job they aspire to be in. Also, there would be a financial literacy program for the women, men and the youth, enabling them to channelize resources productively to build their own capacity,” the statement said.

In the absence of access to clean drinking water, the initiative would include spreading awareness and usage of low cost water filter and improving sanitary conditions. There would also be preventive and curative healthcare clinics as the community is vulnerable to disease from poor living conditions. Over 1,500 saplings are planned to be planted by the women and youngsters as a step towards making their habitat healthier and cleaner.

“United Technologies promotes growth and vitality in communities wherever it operates. We strive to improve lives of underprivileged community members through sustained interventions that encourage self-help. We also encourage and celebrate our employees’ volunteer efforts in improving communities in which they live and work,” said Palash Roy Chowdhury, Managing Director India, Pratt & Whitney Commercial Engines who also heads UTC’s CSR efforts in India.

Added Zubin Irani, President, UTC Climate, Controls & Security-India: “Globalization and urbanization is the order of the day, and we consider it our duty to make the less fortunate better prepared to avail of the opportunities as well as face the challenges caused by it. This initiative is in consonance with our business objective of promoting sustainable development as we strive to build better cities/communities, and improve the quality of life all around.”

According Siraj Chaudhry, board chairman of United Way Delhi and CEO and Chairman, Cargill India Pvt. Ltd., “we strive to improve lives in a measurable, scalable and sustainable way by mobilizing the care and concern of organizations and individuals for their communities. We endeavor to understand the concerns of the communities, identify critical issues and develop implementable strategies.”

“We then work towards eliminating the root of the problem and not just the symptoms, thus achieving sustainable results. We are proud of our partnership with United Technologies which has enabled such interventions across the world,” Chaudhry added

The programme delivery methodology would include a development group comprising 8-10 active community members earmarked for a cluster, the United Way project staff and UTC employee volunteers.

“These community members will serve as role models and peer educators for the rest to help all families improve their living conditions. This will ensure maintenance and sustainability of improvements initiated,” the statement said.

Other initiatives under ‘Pehal’ would include celebrating festivals and national days with the children, beautification and greening of the living habitat, spreading awareness and management of various women health issues, promoting healthy food cooking, storage and eating habits, among others.