Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network-Mangalore (MD)
Mangalore, Aug 6: PNB Metlife India Insurance Company Limited (PNB Metlife), a leading private player in the Indian Life Insurance Space, announced the launch of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme supported by Karnataka Bank Ltd (KBL) here on Tuesday August 5 at Gateway Hotel Auditorium.
P Jayarama Bhat, MD and CEO of KBL, Christopher Townsend, CEO of PNB Metlife Insurance Asia, Mahabaleshwara M S, CGM of KBL, Tarun Chugh, MD and CEO of PNB Metlife Insurance India, Suma Ravi, regional director-south Child Rights for You (CRY) and professor Hilda Rayappan, director of Prajna Counselling Center, Mangalore were present on the dais.
Balachandra Sekhar, chief marketing officer of PNB Metlife, welcomed the guests and said, "The CSR programme will focus on education and development of underprivileged children in the state of Karnataka. Two projects have been taken on in Raichur district with Child Rights and You (CRY) and in Dakshina Kannada district with Prajna Councelling Center which will brighten the future of around 12,000 underprivileged children."
Christopher Townsend launched a CSR activity of PNB Metlife 'Gurukul' an initiative project to 'educate underprivileged children' during the ceremony.
Tarun Chugh, addressing the gathering said, "This is indeed an exciting day for us as we leverage the local expertise of Karnataka Bank to launch our CSR programme. This is the first step and we are evaluating projects across the country on education and development of underprivileged children. This is indeed a testimony to our 12-year-old partnership."
"The programme aims to reach out and transform lives of 10,301 children in Karnataka, across 67 villages and 18 slums in Raichur district. 43% of children have already dropped out of the schools from the seventh standard, almost 2,100 schools are shut down and we are going to re-open these schools very soon," he added.
P Jayarama Bhat in his speech, said, "We are delighted to support the lauch of the CSR programme by our brancassurance partner PNB Metlife. We have been associated with them for last 12 years and today we appreciate and support their endeavor towards education and development of underprivileged children in Karnataka. We both aim to work together to make a difference in the lives of communities we operate in."
Regarding the opening of new branches of Karnataka Bank, P Jayarama said that the bank is planning to open 75 branches in this financial year.
Speaking on the initiatives, Christopher Townsend said, "Metlife has always had a strong global focus on Corporate Social Responsibility. We have many projects across the globe focused on supporting and empowering local communities through Metlife foundation in areas like financial inclusion. For staying in a 12-year long relation with the Karnataka Bank is the longest relationship ever in India."
Talking about CRY's on-ground experience, Suma Ravi said, "Raichur is one of the most backward areas of Karnataka where we have witnessed children being the most vulnerable without access to even basic rights like education and nutrition. CRY and our partner work in the region with government systems to strengthen existing and activate defunct schools, make parents and communities aware and mobilize them to ensure children go to school and receive quality education. To ensure children receive quality healthcare, an integral part of our work includes identifying malnourished children and along with our partner ensure immediate intervention, while simultaneously working to improve the network of public healthcare centers."
"Sneha Jeevi Samsthe, is a CRY project, situated in one of the most backward districts of Karnataka, Raichur. The focus area of this project will be intervention in areas like education, child labour and malnutrition to ensure children have access to their rights," she added.
Talking about the plans for 2014-2015, Suma Ravi said, "Under the CRY project, the plans of 2014-2015 is to organize 30 enrollment drives to enroll children into school, enrollment of 232 identified dropped out children to school, activation of 11 primary schools and at least two high schools, activation of special hostels for girls who cannot continue their education from home, reducing the rate of malnutrition in the intervention area and health and nutrition camps for children and expectant mothers."
Professor Hilda Rayappan, expressing her gratitude at the association, said, "I am extremely greatful to KBL and PNB Metlife for lending us a helping hand and generously supporting us in our initiatives. This gesture will help our NGO in improving the quality of creches in Dakshina Kannada district with additional funds. There are some 750 children of migrant workers, laborers and domestic help who attend these creches."
"Prajna Counselling Center project works with Dakshina Kannada District Council for Child Welfare (DKDCCW) in the spirit of Public Private partnership. The objective is to promote early childhood care and education for children in the age group of 0-6 years in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. This project which is a part of the existing Rajiv Gandhi Creche Scheme works in tandem with the government agenda towards strengthening and supporting the 30 creche centres.
Mahabaleshwara M S proposed the vote of thanks and Balachandra Sekhar compered the ceremony.