GRSE bags SKOCH Award for CSR initiative
Kolkata, July 14
India's premier defence shipbuilder, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd, was awarded the SKOCH Award for its Project Akansha. Project Akansha is a Corporate Social Responsibility initiative aimed at improving the lives of children and adolescents from vulnerable communities in Kolkata.
The award was presented at the 108th SKOCH Summit held in New Delhi. Project Akansha, implemented by Child Rights and You (CRY) with support from GRSE, focuses on the holistic development of children and adolescents in the Munshiganj and Watgunj-Hastings areas of Kolkata.
The aim of the project is to create a safe and enabling environment for children, while enhancing their access to education and opportunities for personal growth. This is being done through supplementary education, life-skills training, self-defence sessions, nutritional support and community engagement.
The project has made a significant impact in the intervention area by improving school enrolment and retention, strengthening life skills and fostering greater community participation in child protection initiatives.
"It has also helped create trusted learning spaces and encouraged active involvement of mothers and local stakeholders in safeguarding children's rights," an official said.
GRSE delivered India's first indigenous warship - INS Ajay - to the Navy in 1961, barely a year after becoming a defence public sector undertaking. Since then, it has delivered 117 more warships to the Navy, Coast Guard and Friendly Foreign Nations. This is the highest number of warships delivered by any Indian shipyard. Two warships built by it have also been exported to Mauritius and the Seychelles.
On June 21, Prime Minister Narendra Modi commissioned three warships built by GRSE into the Navy. These included the advanced stealth frigate INS Dunagiri, survey vessel large INS Sanshodhak and anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft INS Agray.
At the moment, the shipyard is building nine warships, including the advanced stealth frigate Vindhyagiri, four Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels and four anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft. Apart from these, GRSE is also building 30 commercial platforms, including 12 specialised multi-purpose vessels for a German company.
The shipyard is also building four research vessels for NPOL, NCPOR and the Geological Survey of India.
GRSE also holds the largest market share in the country for modular steel bridges that are used by the Army, Border Roads Organisation, and several government agencies to connect difficult and strategic areas. The shipyard is also building 30 mm naval surface guns (NSGs) that are fitted on warships as a close-range weapons system.
"While displaying excellence in shipbuilding and engineering, GRSE reaffirms its commitment to creating sustainable social impact through meaningful CSR initiatives that create opportunities for a brighter future by promoting education, empowerment and holistic community development," the official added.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Great initiative but I hope the focus is sustained beyond awards. Many CSR projects start with fanfare but fizzle out. GRSE should regularly monitor the progress and ensure the children actually benefit long-term. The link with CRY is a good sign though. Hope they expand to more areas too.
At a time when inflation is eating into middle-class savings, at least something positive is happening for the underprivileged. The supplementary education and nutritional support are critical – many kids in these areas miss meals. Well done GRSE and CRY. But why only Kolkata? The whole country needs this.
Impressive numbers – 117 warships delivered, and now working on a German company’s commercial vessels. Shows how Indian shipbuilding is going global. The CSR work is a nice bonus. But can the government also allocate more budget to local schools instead of relying on corporate charity? We need systemic change.
The mention of self-defence sessions for children, especially girls, is so important. We need more such initiatives in urban slums. Plus, involving mothers in safeguarding children’s rights is a game-changer. Kudos to GRSE for winning the SKOCH Award – it’s well-deserved. More PSUs should follow this model.
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