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In India, Microsoft Philanthropies has contributed a total of over $10 million towards community development. This contribution includes both cash and technology investments to transform the way nonprofits deliver impact in India, offer educational opportunities to empower the next generation and extend support during humanitarian crises. Microsoft Philanthropies was created with a commitment to bring the benefits of technology to people who need them the most, as well as to nonprofit organizations that are working to address humanity’s most pressing issues. Madhu Khatri, associate general counsel, Microsoft India said, “Over…

In its effort to make Namami Gange programme a mass movement with the involvement of more and more voluntary organisations, National Mission for Clean Ganga under the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation has signed an MoU with Rotary India. Rotary India will support clean Ganga mission through their ‘WASH in Schools’ program in various schools. The program includes the implementation of water, sanitation and hygiene services in the targeted government schools and sensitizing all the stakeholders including school children, teachers, school management communities and communities etc.…

Niti Aayog is planning to collaborate with civil society organisations (CSOs) for effective implementation of government policies/schemes. Recently, NITI Aayog organized an interaction with the leading CSOs and key ministries of the union government. Over 17 leading voluntary organisations from all over the country working across the spectrum of social sector services from education, health, geriatric care, women’s empowerment and rural development to handlooms interacted with 15 central ministries such as ministry of rural development, ministry of women and child development, FSSAI, ministry of minority affairs, among others. Highlighting the…

Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) and National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) have forged a collaboration on skills and corporate social responsibility (CSR). Manish Kumar, managing director & CEO, National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) mentioned the “areas of synergy” and “common grounds” that both the organisations can identify for working together. He further said that the two organisations can collaborate in areas including but not limited to MSME, corporate governance, CSR, business innovation, e-Governance and corporate communications. He also gave a detailed account of NSDC’s mandate as well as delivery…

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has given its nod to the appointment of two managing directors of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) and two members of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the apex board under the Ministry of Finance that formulates policies on direct taxes in India. The two officers appointed as LIC MDs are: B. Venugopal, currently executive director of LIC and Sunita Sharma, also an LIC executive director. Both these officers are appointed for a period of five years from the date of notification…

IDBI (Industrial Development Bank of India) and Bharatiya Mahila Bank (BMB) have together invested Rs. 4.17 crore in FY 2016-17 in comparison to Rs. 9.5 crore in FY2015-16. In FY 2016-17, IDBI has invested Rs. 4.17 crore, whereas BMB has not invested any amount in the corporate social responsibility sector. IDBI (Industrial Development Bank of India) and Bharatiya Mahila Bank (BMB) are the only public sector banks covered under the Companies Act and hence these two companies invest in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The Public Sector Banks [except Industrial Development…

The corporate social responsibility (CSR) funding of central public sector units has increased by 67 per cent in FY2015-16. As per government report, an amount of Rs. 4,101 crore has been incurred by 106 central public sector undertakings during FY2015-16 for undertaking CSR activities/projects vis-a-vis Rs 2,450 crore has been incurred by 120 central public sector undertakings during FY2014-15. According to provisions on corporate social responsibility of the Companies Act, 2013, all companies, including CPSEs fulfilling threshold limits are required to spend at least 2 per cent of their average…

Rural Electrification Corporation (REC), a public-sector undertaking under the Ministry of Power has contributed Rs. 25 crore towards Swachh Bharat Kosh as per Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The cheque was handed over by P.V. Ramesh Babu, CMD, Rural Electric Corporation (REC), to Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa, who is also the chairperson of the Swachh Bharat Kosh (SBK) as part of REC’s CSR activity. Also present were Parmeshwaran Iyer, secretary, ministry of drinking water and sanitation and Vivek Joshi, administrator, SBK and senior officers of REC. REC has also contributed Rs.…

The 9th Annual ICT4D Conference will take place on 15-18 May, 2017 at Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC), Hyderabad. The ICT4D Conference provides a platform for sector experts, program managers, technical advisors and executives to come together to discuss best practices, explore possible applications of frontier technology and evaluate the impact they create in the journey to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs). The plenary sessions will examine how the power of data can be harnessed to create development impact. Senior government of India officials will deliver keynote addresses on…

At the launch of National Fire Service Week, Safe Kids Foundation and Pune Fire Department announced that 100 volunteers to be inducted as fire marshals, called Agni Surakhsa Mitras, to help deal with fire emergencies. These volunteers are being fully trained in fire safety procedures and will complete the Safe Kids at Home fire safety program. Funded by a Honeywell India grant, Safe Kids at Home is a home safety program to help prevent and reduce burns and scalds among children under 14 years old, in Pune. The program uses…