Kolhapur - December 02, 2008
Dow Chemical International Pvt Ltd (Dow India) today was presented with the ‘Solace of the Handicapped 2008’ by the Kolhapur Paralympic Association at an award function held on the occasion of the 49th World Disability Day. The award was given to Dow India for work undertaken in assisting the physically challenged through the Jaipur Foot Camp initiatives across the country. The award ceremony also saw the felicitation of Mr H R Kohli who was awarded with “The spirit of the handicapped”, award.
Mr Kohli is a noted mute painter.
Chandrakant Nayak, Director, Dow Automotive, represented Dow India at the function and accepted the award on behalf of the Company’s.
“It is a memorable day for Dow India to be recognised for its initiatives in helping the physically challenged, by an august organization like the Kolhapur Paralympic Association” said Mr Nayak after receiving the award. He further added, “The Dow India initiative would not have been possible without collaboration with Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayta Samiti (BMVSS). Together we have been able to distribute nearly 1000 Jaipur Foot and Calipers in Mumbai and Pune. Awards such as these only encourage us to strengthen this initiative and take it further more aggressively”.
Several noted leaders from Kolhapur were in attendance including Dilip Jadhav, District Collector, Kolhapur, V D Vaidya, Professor, ITI, and Vijay Singh Bhosle, President, Mahrashtra Chamber of Commerce.
Dow India successfully organized Jaipur Foot Camps in Mumbai and Pune in October and November 2008 respectively where more than 950 physically challenged people were provided with artificial limbs and calipers. The initiative will now be undertaken in Chennai later this year to help the patients in the southern region.
As a part of its ongoing corporate citizenship programmes, Dow India has been associated with the Jaipur Foot initiative since 2005. In addition to committing financial resources to BMVSS, Dow India’s polyurethane unit at Kalwa, Mumbai along with Pinnacle Industries has utilized its expertise to introduce the revolutionary polyurethane (PU) Foot, which has been highly acknowledged by global orthopedic experts.
Both these organizations are currently working on the next generation polyurethane foot coated with a protective elastomer layer to enhance the life of the PU foot by 100%. This is a unique example of co-development involving an NGO and a corporate organization working together for technological development which will benefit the masses.
About Dow India
Dow Chemical International Private Limited, headquartered in Mumbai, has more than 700 employees, a manufacturing site and three Centers of Excellence. Operations in India have experienced exciting growth with annual sales touching the Rs 2000 crores ($ 500 mm) in 2007. As a responsible corporate citizen, Dow India has helped build homes for the homeless through the ‘Habitat for Humanity’ Jimmy Carter Work Project, supplied free artificial limbs through the ‘Jaipur Foot’ initiative, and collaborated with the Byrraju and Anarde Foundation to supply clean drinking water to villages in India.
About Dow
For Editorial Information:
Roysten D’mello
Dow India
+91 9833859074
Ankush Chavan
Perfect Relations - Mumbai
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cshenoy@perfectrelations.com
