25 June 2005
Introduction
In line with Intervet’s Business Principles and HSE programs, the Intervet India CSR Committee has undertaken various social projects. These projects are focused on children and women, below poverty line and close to the corporate office or Factory. Projects like the Children Helmet Project, Maher Project, Educational Support Projects, Infrastructure support Projects, Vaccination Projects, Environment & Conservation Projects, have been completed and some of them are ongoing. More projects are being envisaged and will be completed accordingly. The committee comprises of 8 voluntary members who hail from different functions within the company.
1. HEALTH SAFETY & ENVIRONMENT
Children Helmet Project
Unsafe traffic, pathetic road conditions and a careless attitude towards road safety lead to many accidents. It is often observed that families travel on two wheelers, which is the most common way of commuting without any protection (helmet). It was also noticed that, although adult helmets were available in abundance, there was a severe dearth of children helmet, which makes them even more exposed to traffic hazards. Hence Intervet India decided to solve the problem of non-existence of children helmets, by selecting a quality helmet manufacturer and to order a sizable quantity of children helmets in various colors and sizes. Almost all the employees have purchased these helmets for their children. This is an ongoing project, and every year applications are sought for further provision of helmets.
Recycling of waste
Due to the manufacturing process and day to day activities, a large amount of waste like paper, glass, wood, plastic, metal etc are generated. Initially this waste was discarded, but now as a part of the environment conservation project all this waste is segregated into different categories like ‘dry waste’, ‘wet waste’, ‘metal waste’ etc and is now disposed scientifically through recycling or other methods. This waste generated is measured and monitored periodically by responsible HSE members.
We have also successfully implemented and carried out the ‘Vermi-composting Project’, where the food waste is decomposed with the help of earthworms resulting into organic fertilizer for plants.
Recycling of Waste water to Potable Water
Pune is situated in the rain shadow region; hence it faces water scarcity most of the time. This situation aggravates further during summer, when we have to resort to purchasing water via tankers to meet our daily requirement. A lot of water generated out of the manufacturing and maintenance process was left to the ground untreated, which further led to more water scarcity and ground pollution. Through the ETP (Effluent Treatment Plant) Project the effluent will now be treated and such treated water can be used for gardening but also for drinking purposes.
2. COMMUNITY WELFARE
MAHER
Maher meaning ‘Mother’s Home’, works for the welfare and rehabilitation of destitute women and children who come from exploited and traumatic background. Maher provides such women shelter, legal aid, vocational training, counseling and reconciliation / rehabilitation wherever possible. Those who cannot be sent back to mainstream society are absorbed among Maher staff, as housemothers, kitchen workers or maintenance staff, according to their skills and capabilities. At present there are around 300 orphan children and 70 women being housed. Maher has its presence in over 70 rural communities around Pune.
Other activities in relation to our collaboration with Maher are:
Donation of milking buffalo
Intervet donated a milking buffalo named ‘Vatsalya’, for the daily requirement of milk. A few days after the donation, Vatsalya gave birth to a female calf ‘Edith’, named after the spouse of Dr. Hans Wijers.
Blanket Donations
50 blankets and 100 bed sheets were donated to the inmates in Maher before winter last winter.
House Painting
Akzo Nobel Coatings has donated 300 liters of paint to Maher. We are coordinating with our colleagues from CO and Factory to paint the houses ourselves and be direct partners in providing them with a colorful house.
Donation of Cow
Disha institute is an organization which works for the betterment of women and children. In addition to this, it also provides counseling to Women via its ‘Mahila Vikas Sewa Sahakari Society’. This orphanage houses 30 pupils including 3 destitute women who help take care of the children. We have decided to donate a cow to them.
3. EDUCATION SUPPORT PROJECT
Donation of computers
Intervet donated computers, which are outdated from the company point of view, to various schools and education institutes who can make good use of them.
• Intervet has donated 4 Computers to a NGO called ‘Akansha’, which works for the education of children from the streets and slums. Our IT team has also installed educative software to support English and Mathematics classes for the children.
• We are exploring opportunities to support a School (V.S. Satav School and Junior College), near our factory where a number of our employees’ children are studying.
Donation of Furniture
Due to the relocation of the corporate office from Hyderabad to Pune, the company had certain excess furniture which is in good condition. This furniture was donated to a Local Municipal run Primary School in the village ‘Jategaon Khurd, situated a few kilometers from the factory.
4. VACCINATION PROJECT
Ring vaccination in and around the factory premises
For two years now Intervet India is running a free vaccination campaign against FMD (foot and mouth disease) for cattle, sheep and goats. The ring vaccination campaign is undertaken with two objectives namely to create a FMD Free Zone in a radius of 10km of the factory premises and to use the seronegative calves from the vaccinated dam in the future for potency tests.
It is decided to vaccinate all the cattle, sheep and goats every year. This was the second year of Intervet India’s free vaccination campaign in this area. Approximately we have vaccinated 8000 animals per year.
