ING Vysya Foundation signs agreement to donate Rs. 29 lakhs towards Water Harvesting project in Rajasthan
Our Corporate
Bureau
07 January 2005
ING Vysya Foundation today announced that it had signed an agreement with Seva Mandir to support the development of water harvesting projects in the Udaipur and Rajasmand districts of Rajasthan. The project is being funded through a donation of Rs29 lakhs (€50,000) from ING Vysya Foundation.
Seva Mandir, with its head office at Udaipur, is currently working in 583 villages out of which 516 villages are located in Udaipur District. Seva Mandir works mainly in the area of natural resource development, education, health, women's empowerment and village institutions building.
The project was identified by ING Group, with the assistance of Plan International, as part of their corporate social responsibility to the communities in which the ING Group operates and will continue for 18 months. Plan International is an international child centered community development organization working in over 60 countries.
Starting from December 2004, the project is expected to reduce hardship for women and children by providing easy access to water for livestock, cleaning etc. In addition to this, it would improve accessibility to drinking water and would show a marked increase in agricultural productivity, due to the recharge of wells.
Speaking at a foundation stone laying in Awafala village, Udaipur district, Alexander Rinnooy Kan, member of the executive board of ING Group, said, "As a global financial services provider, ING is committed to being a good corporate citizen in each of the communities where it has a presence. Our business in India is pleased to help contribute to the socio-economic development of the local communities."
Neelima Khetan, chief executive of Seva Mandir, stated,: "Conceived in the early 1930s and activated in the late 1960s, Seva Mandir has a long history of promoting and empowering the poorer sections of society, primarily in Udaipur district, Rajasthan. This commitment by the ING Vysya Foundation will help Seva Mandir further its objectives, specifically to improve water availability, meeting the drinking, domestic and cattle water needs of the villagers."
