•67Entries Screened from West India for RashtriyaSwayamsiddhSamman

•Regional Jury Selects 2 Individuals &6 Organizations to represent the Western  Region in the  National Assessment

•National Assessment to be conducted in New Delhi.

•Final Award ceremony on April 20th, 2017 at Kamani Auditorium, New Delhi.

•The selected individuals include Sushil Reddy from Mumbai (Maharasthra) & Akash Chourasia from MP in the Individual category and Organizations like YuvaParivartan academy from Mumbai and Mann Deshi Foundation & bank amongst others.

Mumbai, April 05, 2017 (GPN) :
JSPL Foundation, the CSR arm of leading steelmaker Jindal Steel & Power Ltd (JSPL), has received 359 Entries from all over India for the Second Edition of the National Level Awards.The Assessment process entails Regional Rounds to be conducted in Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Mumbai & Kolkata representing the South, North, West& Eastern Regions respectively. After preliminary screening a total of 67 entries from West India were assessed by the Jury; wherein 27 Individuals and 40 Organizations were considered.

JSPL Foundation is guided by the vision of Shri Naveen Jindal (Chairman, JSPL) who believes – “Since inception – we have measured our success on the basis of the positive impact that we have created in our communities. Through sustained interventions as part of our community outreach we have impacted the lives of millions across India. The Second edition of the Rashtriya Swayam Siddh Samman is currently underway, and I wish them every success.”

JSPL Foundation’s initiatives are curated by Smt. Shallu Jindal – who is the guiding force behind all CSR interventions that JSPL undertakes in its operative geographies across Chhattisgarh, Odisha& Jharkhand.

According to her – “The Rashtriya Swayamsiddh Samman aims to bring out stories that have yet been untold. Stories of Courage, Determination and a Will to bring about a change in the society! The Samman is an effort to salute such people and provide them with a national platform, so that others too can take inspiration from them, thus forming a human chain. We have now embarked on the second edition of the Awards and have got an overwhelming response from across India. All these entries are truly inspiring and I look forward to the National Assessment in New Delhi.”

The Second Edition of the Rashtriya Swayansiddh Samman, elicited entries from grass-root level social innovators and change makers from across India. OP Jindal Global University is the Knowledge Partner of the Rashtriya Swayamsiddh Samman, 2017. Speaking on the knowledge association Prof. Raj Kumar said – “The University is enthused to be a part of this humanitarian initiative. We take pride in being the Knowledge Partner for the Rashtriya Swayamsiddh Awards. This Partnership with JSPL Foundation marks a significant milestone for our globally oriented university to mobilize knowledge to work on local needs of our industry partners who are engaged in sustainable community development using CSR as a vehicle of social change. We have articulated critical parameters for the assessment of the Awardees based on regional and national priorities in alignment to the Sustainable Development Agenda in India.”

The Knowledge Partner of the Awards – O P Jindal Global University, processed all the Entries on the basis of critical evaluation parameters. The 67 shortlisted entries from West India for RashtriyaSwayamsiddhSamman Award; underwent the Regional Assessment by a five member regional Jury Committee, today in MUMBAI.

The representative Regional Jury in the West comprised of noted personalities from Mumbai and  included:

•Dr. HuzaifaKhorakiwala, CEO – Wockhardt Foundation

•Mr. R Narottham Reddy, President & Chief Operating Officer, SBI Foundation

•Prof. Shalini Bharat, Dep. Director – Tata Institute of Social Sciences

•Ms. Harsha Mukherjee, Social Entrepreneur & Founder – IICSR

•Dr. PreetiVerma, Associate Professor, Director Incharge, Centre of special Education

The Regional Jury assessed the regional entries by means of a guided evaluation matrix based on regional & national priorities and is aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s).

8selected entries from the West, go into the National Round to be conducted in New Delhi. The selected individuals include AkashChourasia from MP &Sushil Reddy from Mumbai (Maharasthra) in the Individual category and Organizations like YuvaParivartan academy from Mumbai and Mann Deshi Foundation & bank amongst others. The National Jury will meet in New Delhi to further evaluate all the Regional Selections and finalize the 10 Individuals &Organizations, that will receive the Prestigious Rashtriya Swayamsiddh Samman. The National level – Award Presentation Ceremony of the Rashtriya Swayamsiddh Samman – 2017 will be held on 20th April in New Delhi. An honorarium of Rs. 100,000/- (One Lakh) each will be awarded to the winners to help and support their ongoing work, build their capacities and capabilities and empower them to build the nation of our dreams.

The Rashtriya Swayamsiddh Samman has been instituted by JSPL Foundation to honor unsung heroes for their societal achievements.  “At JSPL – we have our operations in the rural hinterland and our strategic CSR initiatives have positively impacted the lives of millions in and around our operative geographies. Ms. Shallu Jindal, the President of JSPL Foundation leads and inspires us to work for the upliftment of our communities. For she believes that inclusive and equitable growth are the corner stones of holistic development. The second edition of the RashtriyaSwayamsiddhSamman is currently underway and on behalf of JSPL Foundation I am extremely thankful to the esteemed jury members who have guided us on our journey to surface untold stories of courage from the western region”; opined Ms. BhavnaSethi, Chief of Sustainability at JSPL.

This national level award will be given in 10 categories – Rural Development, Health, Education, Women Empowerment, Public Service/ Social Service, Entrepreneurship, Art and Craft, Innovation & Technology, Livelihood/Vocational, and Environment Skills- after a robust process of jury meetings at regional and national levels.

The ‘Swayamsiddh Samman’ has so far been conferred upon more than 160 grass root action leaders, both at Regional and National level. The First Rashtriya Swayamsiddh Samman, in 2015 had received 358 entries from across the country. Out of these, 203 entries were shortlisted based on laid down parameters. 25 individuals and organizations across the country from different walks of life were felicitated with the Rashtriya Swayamsiddh Samman. Today, these awardees have become ‘Ambassadors of Change’ and are guiding others to achieve their dreams, thus forming a human chain.

About JSPL Foundation

JSPL Foundation, pursuing its holistic social development initiatives, also acts as the CSR Arm of Jindal Steel & Power Ltd (JSPL). JSPL has always strived to be a globally admired organization that enhances the quality of life of people in and around the areas of its operations through sustainable industrial development. The cornerstone of its business strategy is to achieve sustainable and profitable growth, creating in its wake prospering eco-systems around all its businesses. CSR initiatives of JSPL are carried out by the JSPL Foundation in order to give an impetus and align the existing programme with those of government and other development agencies. JSPL Foundation is an expression of the company’s vision towards sustainable growth in India. JSPL Foundation works with some of the most vulnerable and marginalized communities around the operational areas of the company, with the objective of bringing about a radical transformation in their lives and integrating them into the mainstream development process of the country through positive intervention in social upliftment programs. The Foundation focuses its efforts in key areas of Health, Education, Vocational Training, Women Empowerment, Livelihood, Livestock Care, Drinking Water and Sanitation, Youth and Sports and Infrastructure Development among others.

For more details, please visit : www.jsplfoundation.co.in