Month: September 2025

New Delhi; September 30, 2025: Kone Elevator in partnership with Smile Foundation has launched Smile on Wheels mobile clinic project in Delhi. The initiative aims to bring primary healthcare services to the doorsteps of the communities in 14 urban colonies and communities of Delhi, benefitting 90,000 individuals directly.

The mobile medical unit was flagged off by Amit Gossain, Managing Director India and South Asia KONE, in the presence of Smile Foundation Executive Director Puneet Bali, and Director Programme (Health & Women Health) Dr. Rashmi Ardey.

The mobile medical unit is equipped with a qualified MBBS doctor, paramedical staff, basic diagnostic facilities, and point-of-care services, and it offers free outpatient consultations (OPD) and medicines. The project will also raise awareness about preventive healthcare and about government health schemes. Availability and accessibility of primary healthcare services within the communities are also expected to improve through this project.

Along with delivering primary care across the communities, the project will also run awareness programmes on key health issues, including maternal health, immunization, non-communicable diseases, antenatal and postnatal care within the community. Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) activities will also be conducted to increase awareness of preventive healthcare practices. Furthermore, the project will facilitate referrals to higher-level medical services when necessary. Through community counselling on preventive health, welfare schemes, and available resources, this initiative will help reduce out-of-pocket expenses and encourages health-seeking behaviour.

The Smile on Wheels project in Delhi will cover 14 areas such as Madanpur Khadar, Harikesh Colony, Subhash Camp, Aali village, Jasola Park, and Aali Vihar.

Kone Elevator and Smile Foundation have already been operating Smile on Wheels project in Guwahati Assam since March’2023.

“At KONE, we believe that businesses must play a meaningful role in shaping healthier, stronger communities. Access to primary healthcare remains a pressing need, and through this initiative with Smile Foundation, we aim to bridge that gap by taking quality healthcare directly to people’s doorsteps,” said Amit Gossain.

“Healthcare is a crucial service in ensuring the wellbeing and prosperity of the community. Our mobile medical units have emerged as an effective model in bringing healthcare services to the doorsteps of people. Through this partnership with Kone Elevator, we are further enhancing our efforts to take primary healthcare to the communities and thereby complementing the government’s mission,” stated Smile Foundation Co-founder, Santanu Mishra.

About Kone India

KONE’s presence in India dates to 1984 and today it is the leading elevator company in India. Based in Chennai, KONE India serves customers all over the country through its 50+ branches and provides sustainable People Flow™ solutions for India’s rapidly growing cities. It employs 5500+ people in the country.

KONE’s production unit in Sriperambudur, near Chennai produces elevators for the Indian market as well as for Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka. It also has three training centers in Chennai, Gurgaon & Pune, where KONE’s installation engineers and field mechanics are trained to meet KONE India’s strong reputation for high quality and uncompromised safety, as well as the expectations of Indian customers, when installing and maintaining elevators and escalators. KONE’s global technology and engineering center in Chennai and Pune, is one of the seven global R&D centers, is a testing and research hub, which supports the latest technology and development of future KONE solutions.

For more information, please visit www.kone.in

For further information, please contact:

KONE Elevators India 

kei.communications@kone.com

About Smile Foundation

Smile Foundation is an Indian development organization directly benefiting over 1.5 million children and families every year through more than 400 welfare projects on education, healthcare, livelihood, and women empowerment spread across 2,000 villages and urban clusters in 27 states. Please visit: www.smilefoundationindia.org

New Delhi, 17^th September 2025: Ashirvad by Aliaxis, India’s leading provider of plumbing and water management solutions, today announced the launch of its Plumber Saathi mobile training unit, in partnership with Smile Foundation, in Jharsuguda, Odisha. The training vehicle was formally flagged off by Shri Suresh Pujari, honourable Minister of Revenue & Disaster Management, Government of Odisha in the presence of Shri. Kunal Motiram Chavan, IAS, Collector & District Magistrate of Jharsuguda; Tariniprasad Mohapatra, State Head, Odisha (Building Vertical); Sanjay Palai, Plant Head, Cuttack from Ashirvad by Aliaxis; and Sushanta Kumar Bhuyan, Sr. Director Programmes of Smile Foundation. 

Incidentally, this is India’s first formal launch of Plumber Saathi project. All the trainings and new-age capacity-building will be provided free of cost.

Ashirvad by Aliaxis, in collaboration with Smile Foundation, has launched a transformative initiative to train the youth of Odisha in plumbing, a skill witnessing growing demand across sectors such as infrastructure, manufacturing and construction.

Committed to empowering underrepresented communities, Ashirvad by Aliaxis is equipping local youth with practical, industry-relevant plumbing skills paving the way for sustainable livelihood opportunities and long-term socio-economic upliftment. The Plumber Saathi mobile training unit is central to this mission. Fully equipped with modern tools, resources and guided by expert mentors, the unit will travel across various localities in Odisha to deliver hands-on training aligned with best industry practices.

This skilling initiative will be implemented by Smile Foundation, an Indian development organisation of repute, known for its work in the areas of education, skilling, and healthcare, in close coordination with Ashirvad by Aliaxis. Together, the two organisations are working towards a common goal—creating inclusive pathways to employment and fostering self-reliance through skill development.

Speaking on the occasion, Sudeep Agrawal, CFO & Head- CSR, Ashirvad by Aliaxis said, “With a strong presence in Odisha through our state-of-the-art plant in Cuttack, Ashirvad is deeply committed to the region’s development. The Jharsuguda launch of our Plumber Saathi mobile unit is a step toward building a skilled and self-reliant workforce across Odisha. Our goal is to empower local youth with the knowledge and practical skills needed to pursue meaningful careers in plumbing and allied services. We remain committed to Skill India’s vision by providing inclusive training opportunities that build skills and transform lives.”

Shri Suresh Pujari, Minister of Revenue & Disaster Management, Government of Odisha said, “We appreciate Smile Foundation and Ashirvad’s initiative to deliver vocational and industry-relevant training to the youth of Odisha. Programmes like Plumber Saathi are well aligned with the state’s vision of fostering employability and entrepreneurship. We are confident that this initiative will make a meaningful difference in the lives of young people across the region.”

Shri Santanu Mishra, Co-founder of Smile Foundation said, “India needs to fill over 90 million new jobs by 2030, the majority of which will require some level of vocational or life-skills training. Hands-on vocational training in high-demand trades has to be delivered close to where workers live and work. This is not just about preparing workers for income-generation, it’s about preparing the workers participate actively in India’s growth story.”

Starting its journey in Jharsuguda, the Plumber Saathi will traverse across Odisha to raise awareness and equip the state’s youth with essential plumbing skills. The initiative reflects Ashirvad by Aliaxis’s broader commitment to building future-ready, resilient communities through focused skill development emphasizing grassroots empowerment and gender inclusivity.

Please visit: www.smilefoundationindia.org