AMWAY INDIA PARTNERS WITH IAB TO SET UP A COMPUTER TRAINING CENTER FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED STUDENTS IN CHENNAI

·         Released the Braille Edition of the Book ‘Kannadasan Paadalgal’

·         Organized a workshop on - ‘Accepting new opportunities by combating the fear of failure.’

Chennai, 11th December 2019 – Amway India, the country’s leading FMCG Direct Selling company, celebrated the ‘International Day of Persons with Disabilities’ in association with Indian Association for the Blind (IAB) in Chennai today. In line with the global theme of ‘promoting empowerment of persons with disabilities through inclusive, equitable and sustainable,’ Amway India marked this day by launching a Computer Training Center for the Visually Impaired as well as the release of the book – ‘Kannadasan Paadagal’ in braille. Also, a workshop for the visually impaired students on ‘Accepting new opportunities by combating the fear of failure’ was organized.

The occasion was graced by the presence of Thiru Ravindranath Singh, Deputy Director for the Welfare of Differently Abled, Tamil Nadu, along with the members from the Indian Association for the Blind and Amway India.

Amway India has been relentlessly working towards the betterment of the visually impaired since 1998. Over the years, Amway has supported more than 2.5 lakh people with visual impairment to lead a better life. The computer training center set up in Chennai is part of Amway’s National Project for the Visually Impaired. The primary aim of this computer training center is to enable access to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) services to persons with visual impairment. The center, equipped with 10 computers, will provide training to the visually challenged on Windows platform with more focus on using web-based tools and services. The computer systems are equipped with essential software, which makes it friendly for the visually impaired individual.

Talking about the initiative, Mr. GS Cheema, Senior Vice President, North & South, Amway India, said, “We, at Amway, believe that partnership between businesses and communities is crucial to achieving inclusive and equitable development. Through this initiative to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Amway aims to not only create real opportunities for people with disabilities but also promote their empowerment. During our association with Indian Association for the Blind, we have witnessed remarkable development among the visually impaired, and we will continue to extend our support to them.” 

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Abdul Raheem, Vice President, Indian Association for the Blind, said, “Nothing is impossible for visually impaired to achieve. When equal opportunities are given to them, they are ready to prove themselves and compete with the mainstream. With supporters like Amway, we can provide facilities and opportunities to our students to recognize their ability and support them to achieve success in their endeavor to become economically independent.”

The International Day of Persons with Disabilities was proclaimed in 1992 by United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3 which aims to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development, and to increase awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.

About Amway India CSR initiatives

• Amway India’s CSR initiatives are based on the belief that social responsibility is much more than the incurrence of a cost or a resource or a charitable/ philanthropic act of social benefit. It is an opportunity to bring in social innovation and change. This belief is articulated in Amway’s vision of helping people live better lives. When it comes to commitment to corporate citizenship, Amway India makes a serious and concentrated effort to reach out and help people improve their lives.
• Amway India supports a comprehensive CSR programme covering a gamut of initiatives including a water conservation project to improve the ground water level in 7 villages in the Dindigul district located around the manufacturing plant. Amway supports a village health program targeted at 26 villages in the Dindigul district, to provide quality healthcare to the underprivileged. The treatment includes general health check-up, select pathological tests and medicines at zero cost to the beneficiaries. In a span of 36 months over 325 free health camps have been organised benefitting more than 75,000 people from local communities.
• Amway India set up 02 telemedicine centres in the Dindigul district to ensure a consistent healthcare support to the villagers. This program has eliminated distance barriers and improved access to medical services in distant rural communities. The centres are providing free medical treatment to more than 1,000 patients on a monthly basis.
• Amway India extended support in the areas of Entrepreneurship & Livelihood training in Muzaffarpur & Chapra in Bihar and Ambedkarnagar & Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh for the upliftment of underprivileged women. The program has benefitted 200 direct and 20,000 indirect beneficiaries.
• Amway India launched the “Power of 5”, a community-based global campaign in the slum areas of Delhi to address childhood malnutrition.  The program has benefitted the lives of 40,000 beneficiaries (children below 5 years, frontline workers, parents, caregivers and community members).
• Amway’s National Project for the visually impaired provides education and livelihood opportunities.  Over the past 20 years, the project has impacted more than 2.50 lakh lives and serves as a platform for their integration with the mainstream society.  
• Amway India has been conferred with the “CSR Times Award” for the Best Corporate in water conservation and Management.