Hyundai leaps towards community inclusion

CHENNAI: It is being viewed as a leap forward as Hyundai Motor India Foundation (HMIF) launched two more corporate social responsibility programmes — ‘Project Go Green’ and ‘Adoption of Model Villages’ — on  Wednesday at Irrungattukottai in Kancheepuram district. These programmes are part of their ongoing initiatives of bringing socio economic development to their neighbourhood communities.Speaking at the occasion, R Sethuraman, Trustee, HMIF, said, “We are committed to developing the community around us. Every year, we add fresh initiatives to the long list of already existing projects, while we continue to nurture and expand them. Being a part of these initiatives gives me immense happiness and contentment.”About Rs 100 from the sale of every car goes into the Foundation. Since its inception in 2006, it has invested over Rs 20 crores in various CSR projects on community development, road safety, education and healthcare, the office bearers said.Project Go Green is an income-generating tree planting project with a difference. Under this project, HMIF plans to distribute one-lakh saplings to the farmers within this year. They are partnering with TIST, an NGO, that will play a monitoring role in this project. The farmer will plant the sapling in his land and will be paid by HMIF for its upkeep and maintenance.“Through this project, all of us get to gain,” said Sethuraman. ”We earn our carbon credits as an organisation and the farmer in the end gets to gain from the proceeds of sale of the produce, which will add to his income.” Saplings of teak, jackfruit and mango will be distributed. To mark the beginning, some members of the foundation also planted some saplings.The highlight of the day was, however, the presence 120 Korean students and 20 Korean doctors who, for the next two-and-a-half weeks, will be working in the various CSR projects of HMIF in Kanchipuram.Every year, Hyundai Motor Corporation, Korea, sponsors students to come to India to volunteer in the community projects under the banner ‘The Happy Move Volunteers’. Shin Hyeon Sik, one of the volunteers, said, “This is my second time as a volunteer in India. This is a great learning experience for us.”Under the model village programme, five villages around Irungattukottai were identified and the villagers would be provided with individual toilets and given lessons in hygiene while the women would be empowered through self help groups. S Sivashanmuga Raja, Kanchipuram Collector, appreciated the efforts of the HMIF and extended his complete support to all their initiatives.He said, “I appreciate the efforts of Hyundai Motor India Foundation for developing the local community. To date, more than 54 villages and 62 schools have benefited from their initiatives. They work closely with the district administration.  I would say they are a role model for other corporates to follow.”BS Seo, Senior Executive Director-Production, Hyundai Motors India, also felicitated the gathering. The foundation also distributed 450 sets of benches to government schools and 200 tables and chairs to teachers from 50 schools. They also handed out certificates to 50 nursing students from under-privileged backgrounds whose education was sponsored by HMIF.