New Delhi, XX September 2018: A study of India’s top companies for sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) shows that the top 200 companies spend around Rs 1369 crores on healthcare and wellness. About 24% of the total spend on CSR is focused on healthcare. Companies can do a lot to support healthcare as a part of their 2% mandatory spending. To recognize the contribution of business to healthcare, the HCFI CSR Awards 2018 are being organized as part of the 25th MTNL Perfect Health Mela this year.
Funds directed at CSR can become an enabler for driving innovation in healthcare processes and medical devices to deliver healthcare in a portable, convenient and cost-effective way. All this can further help in achieving the objective of ‘affordable healthcare’ which is also the theme for the Mela this year.
Speaking about this, Padma Shri Awardee, Dr KK Aggarwal, President, HCFI, said, “According to the Vedas, we are living in Kalyuga and therefore, there is a general perception that it is not possible to bring about any change for the betterment of the society. However, this is not true. Just as the Satya yuga had both Gods (suras) and demons (asuras); Treta yuga had both Ram and Ravana; and Dwapar Yuga had Krishna and Kansa, there are bound to be Satya yugis amongst the Kalyugis, though in minor numbers. Doctors are true to their chosen vocation. They treat their patients with honesty (satya), selfless hard work (tapa), purity of mind (pavitrata), compassion (daya) and charity (daan) — all the characteristics that make a person satya yugi. Doctors, and not hospitals, charge no fee during emergency and subsidize their fee. This makes them Satya yugis and contributors to CSR.”
CSR is one way of becoming a Satya yugi. However, it should not be just limited to corporates. Each one of us too, as individuals, can carry out some acts of CSR or charity.
Adding further, Dr Aggarwal, who is also the Group Editor-in-Chief of IJCP, said, “The principles of charity remain the same: truthfulness, detachment, positive. This is the meaning of satya, tap, and pavitrata. Everybody who is involved in charity or CSR should follow these principles of charity. A simple mantra to do this is, ask somebody ‘May I help you?’”
The various award categories for the HCFI CSR Awards include campaigns directed at Healthcare, WASH, Rural health, Women empowerment, Old age, Education, Livelihood, Food for all, Social Media, Public Relations, Cause Branding, and Post-disaster Relief, Childcare, and Environmental Excellence. An award for Project of the Year shall also be given. A jury comprising eminent medical practitioners, artists, social activists, educationists, and development professionals will decide the winners in various categories.
Nominations for HCFI CSR Awards 2018 are to be filled and submitted online. Campaigns executed during the year 2017/18 (for the period 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2018) are eligible as entries. The nomination should be accompanied by a PowerPoint presentation (max. 20 slides) and / or a 3-minute movie clip about the initiative. An entry fee of Rs 5000 per entry is to be paid. Organizations can apply under multiple categories as well. The deadline for submission is 1st October 2018. For the rules and regulations and other details one can visit, www.perfecthealthmela.com.
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