Dear readers and supporters,
For us, working in the development sector,
the last year brought good news, as India became the first country
to make Corporate Social Responsibility mandatory, under the Companies
Act 2013. This is a significant move towards achieving sustainable
and inclusive growth of the country.
The Cover Story brings out
different facets of the CSR mandate, elaborating on the evolution
of CSR in India - from one-time philanthropic grant to integrated
strategic policy. Partnering with credible NGOs is an imperative
step in making CSR effective, particularly when it comes to service
delivery on the ground. On the other hand, NGOs will get to learn
from the management expertise of the corporate so as to scale up
their capabilities for effective delivery of development projects.
In keeping with our belief
that Real Work brings Real Change, Smile Foundation has taken its
projects into the interiors of India, reaching the unreached in
remote rural areas. 'In Focus' takes up one such successful project,
the Smile on Wheels mobile hospital programme in Barmer, Rajasthan.
The project, focusing on women and children, covers 62 villages
of the district through three mobile hospital units.
To give you an in-depth understanding
of our programmes, from this issue onwards, we have introduced a
programme perspective to the developments made in the period. The
section is called 'From the Ground'.
From our children's exams to
summer vacations, new projects to innovative events, programme strengthening
to new partnerships, it has been an exciting time for us. We would
like to express sincere thanks to all our supporters and well wishers
who have encouraged us throughout.
We hope you will find something
to smile at on every page you turn, as we bring you stories of change
at the grassroots, from different nooks and corners of the country.
Warm Regards
Vikram Singh Verma
Chief Operating Officer
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