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Pune June 15 Cognizant Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of Cognizant Technology Solutions, has extended financial aid to five Maharashtra-based non-Government organisations. The aid is to the tune of Rs 40 lakh.

The NGOs, which have received the fund, include Manavya, Saraswati Pratishtan Dadhichina Pranam, Centre for Youth Development and Activities, Social Action for Manpower Creation and Swatantryaveer Sawarkar Educational Trust. The Thalassaemia Treatment centre at Sassoon Hospital in Pune and the Baba Amte Maharogi Seva Samiti in Anandvan have been the beneficiaries in the past.

Talking to presspersons, Mr N.R. Krishnan, an independent director of Cognizant Foundation, said the foundation, which has been created a couple of years ago, has so far funded more than 60 projects. Of this, about 39 fell in the education segment, 21 in the health sector and about a couple of projects each in rural development and individual assistance.

Participatory approach

He pointed out that the foundation has a participatory approach and all the CSR proposals that have been brought up had come in from the Cognizant associates. The funding for all these projects comes from the parent organisation as also from individual donors.

He said that so far funding has always been a one-time payment but now it was looking at making a departure from this. It was looking at instituting scholarships for the school and college going students and noted that the feasibility study was under progress.

Giving details about the funding that has been handed out today, Manavya, started in 1997 in Bhugaon village, Pune, runs a shelter home for HIV positive orphans. It currently provides food, clothing, medical support, shelter and educational support, free of cost to 55 HIV positive children. The fund would be utilised for financial aid and computers.

Saraswati Pratishtan, which began in 1983, runs a school up to class 10 with over 350 students from seven villages. For the past three years, it has been providing free accommodation and food to the poor and needy students and a total of 21 students are availing of this facility.

The Centre for Youth Development and Activities, started in 1999, focuses on setting up a youth resource centre for addressing the issues and challenges of adolescence and adulthood. It provides personality development and opportunities for civic participation.

About 2,500 volunteers are already in its fold across the country with about 750 volunteers in Pune. Social Action for Manpower creation, established in 1990, is active in the areas of education and rehabilitation, focussing on poor, destitute and needy women, orphans and children of sex workers. It is also carrying out vocational training, women's empowerment, childcare, agriculture and community development. It is planning to reach out to 750 youths within five to seven years in the areas of counselling, guiding and training of youth.

The Swatantryaveer Sawarkar Educational Trust, registered in 1993, focuses on providing educational assistance and empowering the poor by way of its vasti-shaalas (schools) for tribal children.

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