CSR THRUST AREAS - EMPOWERMENT PROJECTS
Interweaving Masks and Livelihood Security
Amidst the COVID 19 pandemic, many daily wage earners have either lost their livelihood completely or are on the verge of collapse. Among this, the traditional weavers and the fishermen community are the two groups whom CSL extended its supporting hand at right time.
When the company received a request for support from the Handloom workers and fishermen community at the West Kochi area where the spread of Corona was alarmingly severe, for supply of Cotton masks, it was decided to club these two by purchasing face mask from Handloom workers and distributing among the above fishermen community.
The weavers at Kannur rose to the occasion and stitched more than 30 thousand good quality masks using handloom clothes at record time so that we could distribute them to the fishermen community of Mattanchery, Chellanam, Vypin and Fort Kochi region during Onam festival season.
Through this initiative CSL interweaved a delicate yet strong thread of mutual understanding and support between handloom workers and fishing community.
T-LAMP….Lighting a Way Ahead
‘’A brave, frank, clean- hearted, courageous and aspiring youth is the only foundation on which the future nation can be built’’ -Swami Vivekananda
Children of today are tomorrow’s citizen. Substance abuse among adolescent children erodes our nation’s future and hopes for a better tomorrow. Empowering our youth and lighting a way ahead for them has always been a core concern of Cochin Shipyard’s CSR activities.
Cochin Shipyard aided AURA, an NGO catering to the needs of school students and adolescent children, in implementing T- LAMP (Teenage Leadership And Motivational Programme) Project. T- LAMP is a de-addiction cum leadership programme that aims at the holistic development of the children affected by drugs. CSL supported the project as an attempt towards providing a growing life curve to the children who are addicted to drugs and other substance.
On 19 October 2019, Parliament Member T N Prathapan inaugurated the programme at Chittissery Thanal Auditorium. The programme was presided by Cochin Shipyard’s Deputy Manager (CSR) Shri. P S Sasindradas. Notable personalities like film actor Jayaraj Warrior, Sr. Simphoria, Sr. Jiss Theres, Fr. Job Padayattil, Fr. Baiju Chakery, Gram Panchayath Member K Sugandi, K Pushpakaran, C M Joshi and Santhosh Arakkal shared their thoughts and valuable messages with the children.
CSL took this opportunity to aid AURA to make a real difference and play a major role in improving health and well- being of India’s future citizens.
Contribution to Armed Forces Flag Day Fund (AFFDF)
The process of fighting to safeguard the sovereignty of the country sometimes results in laying down the lives of soldiers, or are rendered disabled. Hence the rehabilitation and welfare of our Ex-Servicemen, the next of kin of our martyrs and our disabled soldiers is the responsibility of all Citizens. Armed Forces Flag Day provides the society an opportunity to fulfill this responsibility by contributing to the AFFD fund.
Considering this, CSL contributed an amount of Rs. 5 Lakhs from their CSR Fund thus by joining with the Country to honour the martyrs as well as men and women in uniform, who valiantly fight on our borders to safe guard the country’s honour. Sh. AK Subash, GM (HR & Trg) handed over the fund to Sh. NSK Umesh, IAS, District Collector who is also the Chairman of AFFDF in a formal function held at Collector’s Chamber.
FREEDOM PADS- Sanitary Napkin Manufacturing Unit at Ernakulam District Jail
The taboos and stigmas associated with the term ‘jail’ creates a perpetuating cycle of shame and exclusion, hindering the reintegration of inmates into the society. These stereotypes develop a feeling of hopelessness among the inmates, especially women due to the societal image and perceptions.
Due to this, women are often trapped into a state of psychological distress and emotional traumas. To address this issue Cochin Shipyard Limited incorporates an initiative that takes in account the skill enhancement and subsequent development of such women.
Manufacturing sanitary napkins by women is a beneficial way as they become the producers and consumers at the same time. The venture is also helpful to generate income by selling the product through the outlets of the jail at a reasonable rate. These skills can be valuable for future employment opportunities and contribute to their reintegration into society after release.
Cochin Shipyard partnered with M/s Bumeric India, an NGO who has been in the business of women empowerment for the past several years, to set up a unit in the District Jail premises, Ernakulam, and impart training and provide continued support.
From Struggle to Spotlight
Transgender Dance Academy, Ernakulam
The Transgender Dance Academy is not just about dance; it is about breaking barriers and a celebration of individuality. Sri Sathya Sai Orphanage Trust is the largest NGO in Kerala that has been serving the community since 1996. They believe that the dance academy for transgenders can transform lives and nobody must be deprived of their rights to learn.
Cochin Shipyard Limited has played a pivotal role in providing financial assistance for the Transgender Dance Academy. It is in line with the company’s culture and vision that aims to extend support to all genders and promote the notions of equity and equality. Cochin Shipyard Limited takes in account the rights of transgenders who have been vulnerable and marginalized since generations.
Cochin Shipyard Limited has collaborated with Sri Sathya Sai orphanage Trust to provide specialized coaching and mentorship programs under renowned expertise for transgender dancers. This support not only contributes to the development of artistic excellence but also empowers the transgender community, promoting their social acceptance and recognition of talents.
Hindu Mala Araya Sabha – Community Centre
Providing facilities by developing the infrastructure for empowering and mainstreaming deprived communities has always been a core concern of CSR activities of CSL. Following this, CSL extended their CSR support to Hindu Mala Araya Trust for establishment of their Community Centre at Ernakulam.
The Centre caters the needs of public especially the Scheduled Tribe communities of Kerala who visits Ernakulam for medical care and also acts as a Skill Development Centre recognising education as a massive and valuable tool in empowering the weaker sections of the society.
In a formal function held on 25 Oct 2021, Hon. Cochin Corporation Mayor Adv M Anil Kumar inaugurated the facilities in the presence of Hindu Mala Araya Sabha representatives and CSR Deputy Managers of CSL Sh. Sasindradas and Sh. Yoosaf AK.
Mahatma Ayyankali Memorial Library Cum Skill Development Centre, Aluva
On the occasion of Ambedkar Memorial day, 6th Dec 2021, the Mahatma Ayyankali Memorial Library cum Skill Development Centre facilities was opened to public by Kerala Pulayar Maha Sabha (KPMS), Aluva with the CSR support of Cochin Shipyard Ltd.
The Centre will act as a Skill Development and Career Development centre for all, particularly, the SC Community in the region.
In a formal function held on 6th December 2021, Sh. Sambath Kumar PN, AGM & Head (CSR) inaugurated the facilities in the presence of KPMS representatives and CSR Deputy Managers of CSL Sh. Sasindradas PS and Sh. Yoosaf AK were also present.
Refrigerated Mobile Fish Vending Kiosks for Fisherwomen across Kerala
ICAR-CIFT has developed Refrigerated Mobile Fish Vending Kiosk’ for selling of fish in the closed chilled chamber under hygienic conditions. Fishermen, fish processors and traders can rely on this simple cost-effective equipment to meet the required food hygiene and safety standards in fish handling. The developed kiosk is ergonomically designed for women fish vendors. In order to promote this technology to the masses, ICAR-CIFT entered into a collaborative project with Cochin Shipyard Ltd.,(CSL) to avail grants for distribution of Refrigerated Mobile Fish Vending Kiosks to the selected beneficiaries from fishermen community
CSL approved this project to be undertaken under its CSR programme to selected beneficiaries from fishermen community. The Kiosk is developed by ICAR-CIFT and the beneficiaries are identified by the Society for Assistance to Fisherwomen (SAF)- an Agency under Fisheries Department, Government of Kerala. A total number of 26 machines at a total cost of Rs.17.00 lakhs are supported by CSL CSR programme. The total cost per machine works out to around Rs.80,000/- of which the CSL’s support works out to about 90 percent and balance as the beneficiary contribution. The total project cost including the benefiary contribution works out to Rs.20,06,800/-.
In a formal function held on 26 Sep 2021 at CIFT office, Sh.Jatindra Nath Swain, IAS, Secretary (Fisheries) handed over the Refrigerated Mobile Fish Vending Kiosk to beneficiaries. A total of 26 machines will be made under the scheme for distribution to women fish vendors across Kerala. Sh. Balaji, IAS, Joint Secretary (Marine Fy), Dr Ravishankar C N, Director ICAR-CIFT, Dr A Gopalakrishnan, Director, ICAR-CMFRI and Sampath Kumar, AGM (CSR) attended the event.
Training and Skill Development Centre at Vizhinjam Thiruvananthapuram
The ‘Bollard Pull’ testing facility constructed by CSL at Vizhinjam has been a milestone in the history of the Company. The support provided by the local community for the project has been immeasurable and CSL was able to build a rapport with them. The Company was deeply touched by the goodwill of the community that CSL was committed to serve the community by any means possible. At this juncture, Vizhinjam Thekkumbhagam Muslim Jama’ Ath located nearby to our Bollard Pull testing unit, approached CSL for building a skill development centre for the benefit of the youth and local fishermen community.
On 13th November 2020, Jama’Ath president, Dr. H A Rahman, Chief Imam Moulavi, Yahia Bakhvi Puzhakkara and AGM(CSR&A) of CSL, Shri Sambath Kumar P N jointly inaugurated the building. Jama’Ath Secretary, Shri. U Sudheer, Deputy Manager of CSL, Shri A K Yoosaf, Representative of M/s Habitat Technology, Shri. Binuand Mahallu Committee members were present during the ceremony. The building was dedicated to the cause of training and skilling the poor and marginalized community irrespective of religion and caste so as to empower and enhance their livelihood opportunities.
Empowering energizing and enabling communities has been at the core of CSR policy of CSL that seek to give back to the society for what it has taken from it.
A Touching Gift to the Blind Children
For the blind, the best way to learn is through touch and feeling objects. And this is the essence of the disabled friendly park constructed by Cochin Shipyard Ltd at the school campus of Kerala Blind School Society, Aluva. The centre provides education and training to visually impaired and differently abled children, empowering them to lead a financially independent, self-reliant and dignified life catering to nearly 80 students. CSL provided full support to the Society, to build the blind-friendly children’s park and to procure modernized equipments for their physiotherapy centre at the school. The disabled-friendly park aims to help the students overcome the physical and mental challenges of blindness. For improving their physical fitness trampolines, treadmill and ball pools are also installed.
On 14th February 2020, CSL Director (Operations) NV Suresh Babu inaugurated the park in the esteemed presence of Shri K A Ramesh, Keezhumad Gram Panchayath President. Shri Subash A K, DGM & CWO, Shri. Yoosaf AK DM (CSR) are also present to bless the occasion along with School authorities.
MAKING A REAL DIFFERENCE
Cochin Shipyard through its CSR activities wholeheartedly supports differently abled children and ventures to make a real difference in their lives. CSL has always been in the frontlines to aid activities that aim to empower the children and bring them into mainstream for a better future. Evidently, CSL extended support to Different Arts Centre, Thiruvananthapuram. .
Different Arts Centre is an initiative by the renowned Magician Shri.Gopinath Muthukad within the campus of Academy of Magical Sciences in association with Kerala Social Justice Department and Kerala Social Security Mission. It aims to engage hundred differently abled children who are talented in various dimensions of art like music, dance, magic and painting. The children will be trained and given chance to perform in various stages around the world. These children are treated like other employees of the organisation and handsomely paid for their performances to earn a living of their own.
CSL recognises these children as valuable future citizens of our nation. They are neither to be marginalised nor to be excluded from the mainstream society. With CSL’s help Different Arts Centre will be able to bring up more talents among the differently abled children.
Winged Wishes
Living through all ups and downs of their lives and having spent good old days to ensure a bright future for their children, the tendency to neglect the elderly is becoming a social concern in the present scenario. Cochin Shipyard and Rotary Club of Cochin Vypin Island came forward to provide care and protection of the inmates of Navathara Old Age Home, Vypin, Pallipuram. CSL supported Rotary Club to render first ever flight experience to the inmates of the old age home.
Including women, thirty inmates took flight from cochin Aiport to Thiruvananthapuram Airport on 18 June 2019. On reaching Thiruvananthapuram, the group visited Legislative Assembly and viewed its proceedings. Afterwards they visited Napier Museum and Padmanabhaswamy Temple.
Inmates had a very memorable day of their lives. Their wish to fly atleast once in their lifetime became a reality. The programme emphasized the fact that senior citizens are not to be neglected or marginalised. Their dreams and wishes ought to be given wings.
Enabling the Differently Abled to have a Empowered Life
Swasraya Charitable Trust is a special child development and vocational training centre for differently abled located at Kuttur in Thrissur district. The institution caters to empower the differently abled who are suffering from mental retardation, autism, cerebral palsy and multiple disabilities irrespective of age and gender. They have made commendable services towards the rehabilitation of the differently abled people so as to lead a dignified life.
On recognising their noble efforts, CSL supported them for the construction of a vocational training centre. In the ceremony held on 20th December 2019, CMD, CSL Shri Madhu S Nair laid the foundation stone of the centre in the presence of Smt. Roopa Sekhar Rai, Chairperson, CSR and SD committee of CSL, Shri. Radhakrishna Menon, Independent Director, CSR and SD committee of CSL along with Kolazhy Grama Panchayath President, Shri. P G Unnikrishnan.
The training centre will be instrumental in providing vocational training programmes in screen printing, food processing, handicrafts, paper cups, artificial jewellery, agriculture and in data entry. Such an initiative will aid the beneficiaries to become self-reliant.
‘Vanaprastha’- Towards a Healthy and Peaceful Retired Life
Economic issues and the social inability of the nuclear family system to take care of the elderly drive the aged people to lead lives of sub human existence. A roof over their heads is a critical need of the elderly people who are infirm, sick and abandoned by their family. CSL strives to provide them a healthy, peaceful, happy and fulfilling retired life.
Punnyam Charitable Trust of Vazhoor, Kottayam district approached CSL seeking support for their project Vanaprastha, which envisages a rehabilitation and yoga centre along with the provisions for ‘pakalveedu’ (day care centre) for elderly people. Recognizing the need for pursuing noble goals of good health and well-being of aged and infirm, CSL openheartedly supported the Trust in its initiative named Vanaprastha. The ‘Pakalveedu’ named as Vanaprastha kendra provides day time accommodation and recreational facility for the aged and destitute people. Depending on their education and other parameters like age and health, these people will be trained to take up various jobs like mentoring youth and passing on traditional folklore and handicrafts so as to engage them with sharing of their golden experiences of life.
On 26th December 2019, Vanaprastha kendra was inaugurated by honourable Member of Parliament, Shri. Anto Antony in the esteemed presence of Dr. N Jayaraj M L A and Shri. B Radhakrishna Menon, Chairman of Audit and Accounts Committee of CSL, among others.
CSL values elderly people as important assets of our society whose experience, knowledge and wisdom is inevitable for the success of our younger generation. Assisting the elderly to lead a self-reliant, dignified and empowered life has always been an important concern for CSL.
After Flood Rehabilitation Programme
After Flood Rehabilitation Programme - Repair/Replacement of Charkas and Related Facilities at Gandhi Smaraka Grama Seva Kendram
The devastating flood affected the central Keala heavily. The heavily affected are the people who living around the river Periyar. Chendamangalm, one of the heavily affected villages is famous for its traditional weaving hub. The majority of the community involved in spinning and weaving lost all their property in the flood. CSL along with Gandhi Smaraka Grama Seva Kendram, Nanthiattukunnam, Ernakulam District took initiative to extend financial support towards Repair/Replacement of Charkhas and related facilities. Thus, the District Collector proposed project could able to regain the livelihood opportunities of 104 Khadi artisans of Paravur area. This could facilitate the women empowerment since a large number of women engaged in this small scale business.
Welding For Nation Building - A Skill Development Training In Advanced Welding
Knowing the link between skill development and employment generation CSL in its CSR policy has identified Skill Development as one of the most important areas of operation. CSL, one of the largest shipyards in India has gained considerable expertise in the area of welding technology. Hence as a part of their social commitment initiatives, the Don Bosco Tech Institution, Vaduthala, Ernakulam in collaboration with Indian Institute of Welding (IIW) Cochin branch provided skill training in welding (MMAW+MIG/MAG and MMAW+TIG). A total of 120 marginalized youth benefitted from this programme conducted on three batches and got certified by the National Skill Development Council.
Short Stay Home
Short Stay Home For Women -"Swadhargrih"
As a women empowerment initiative, CSL has supported building a short stay home at Nettayam, Thiruvananthapuram for the benefit of the victims of domestic violence.
The project is run by the Kerala Working Women Association, Thiruvananthapuram. The home was inaugurated by the Kerala Finance Minister, Dr Thomas Isaac. CSL’s CSR support was to the tune of Rs.20 lakhs
Support For Endosulphan Victims
Keys Of Houses Handed Over To Endosulfan Victims
As part of CSL and Sathya Sai Orphanage Trust’s project for victims
The ill effects of excessive usage of pesticides have crippled the life of many communities world over. The endosulfan victims of Kasaragod District in Kerala is a living example of this.
The pesticide sprayed on thousands of hectares of hilly cashew plantations and resultant pollution of their air and water bodies has caused contamination of the environment.
Studies have documented that endosulfan has affected human development and endosulfan exposure is linked to delays in growth and maturity among children.
Virtually wiping the tears of endosulfan victims, Cochin Shipyard, joining hands with Sathya Sai Orphanage Trust agreed to support construction of five houses of the 108 houses proposed to be built by the trust.
In the first phase, CSL has funded for construction of five houses. CSL has spent Rs.25 lakhs, for five houses, each house having a cost of Rs.5 lakhs.
Chief Minister, Shri Pinarayi Vijayan handed over the keys of the houses to the beneficiaries. The 500 sq. ft., two-bedroom houses are built on five acres of revenue land allotted by the previous UDF government.
The Revenue Minister E. Chandrasekharan handed over the title deeds of 10 cents of land each, where the houses are built, to the beneficiaries.