More than 400 children attend schools of the NGO, which specializes in providing education to hearing-impaired students.
School materials especially developed by Suhrud Mandal enable hard-of-hearing children to learn.
Since 2014, companies in India have been legally obliged
to be socially committed. What role does this play in the
activities of ELANTAS Beck India?
Shirish Dabir: We were socially committed even before this law
came into force. For example, we supported Suhrud Mandal
for the first time in 2012, when we gave them the paint for paint-
ing their school building. ELANTAS Beck India has always helped
whenever there were any natural disasters afflicting the country.
Our employees even donate money from their own pockets
in such cases. So you can see that we have always lived up to our
social responsibility. The only difference to the time before the
law came into effect is that our activities are now more structured
and better organized.
How are you proceeding exactly?
Shirish Dabir: We have framed a policy, identified the focus
areas of our support, and formed a decision-making committee.
The CSR team then obtains references and further information,
also locally. New project suggestions are evaluated and presented
to the decision-making committee, consisting of two independent
Dialog with our Stakeholders 43
ELANTAS BECK INDIA
PROMOTING EDUCATION IN INDIA
ELANTAS Beck India and Suhrud Mandal
have worked together since 2012.
The ALTANA subsidiary supports the NGO
financially with a total of almost
5.4 million Indian Rupees and with dona-
tions in kind such as computers.
400 CHILDREN HELPED
directors and the managing director of ELANTAS Beck
India, for the final decision.
Dr. Mandke, what in your opinion are the success factors
for cooperation between companies and NGOs?
Dr. Kalyani Mandke: The most important success factor is
indeed financial support. In most cases, the companies give us the
freedom to decide how to use the money. The disadvantage
is that while many companies make resources available, they lat-
er lose interest in our work. But the companies and their em-
ployees could also benefit from closer cooperation. As I said, so-
cial commitment not only changes the world of the needy for
the better, but also opens up new perspectives for those who
provide assistance. More companies should become aware of
this.
Shirish Dabir: I agree completely. Through this kind of even
closer cooperation between companies and nongovernmental
organizations we gain more insight into the tasks involved
and can derive a lot of energy and motivation to work with more
zeal on behalf of our company for such social causes.