Vedanta group firm Hindsutan Zinc today said it has won the prestigious Asian CSR Excellence award, a coveted recognition in the field of corporate social responsibility.
"The Asian Forum on CSR, Singapore, awarded Hindustan Zinc, the most coveted Asian CSR Excellence Award-2008 for the 'Zinc Integrated Poverty Alleviation Programme (ZIPAP)'. The award has been conferred on the firm under the 'Poverty Alleviation Category'," the zinc producer said in a statement.
The company said that it was the only Indian representation amongst 170 entries made from as many as 120 companies, from 15 countries.
"...ZIPAP has a clear vision to bring sustainable change in the quality of life of people living below poverty line," it said.
The company is also undertaking a sustainable livelihood project, which emphasises is laid on the entrepreneur development, professional vocational courses like sales and marketing, hospitality and so far about 3,200 rural youth have attended the programme and 90 per cent of them have already been placed, it added.
For promoting women empowerment, 185 self help groups have been developed with about 2,800 members, the company said. The group is doing a sizeable work in handicrafts, embroidery, animal husbandry, tailoring.
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The firm had also organised various awareness camps focusing on health of women and children, it said.
The metal producer has been running two other related projects, 'Mid-Day Meal Scheme' and 'Integrated Child Development Centre--Anganwadi Project', the statement said.
On behalf of Hindustan Zinc, its CSR Associate Vice President Ahmar Sultan received the award from United Nations Under-Secretary-General Noeleen Heyzer.