Trade’s CSR initiatives
With big companies and MNCs being involved in a number of initiatives under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), it is time to look within the travel industry. TRAVTALK finds out what the different associations are doing to give back to the community. W
Since inception, OTOAI has been actively involved in CSR activity. Initially, the Ladies Wing helmed by Vasudha Sondhi and Punam Singh had adopted an old-age home in Shahdara for a year and provided food, provisions, medicines, recreational goods and building materials to the residents. This was followed by contributions in cash and kind to an orphanage in Sarita Vihar. OTOAI has also contributed in both cash and kind to the Uttarakhand and recently the Chennai flood victims. The association also supports some children of the economically-weaker sections in the trade for their education. TAFI has time and again participated in CSR activities. We have in the past donated wheelchairs at Chennai and Bengaluru airports. During calamities, we send appeal letters to our members and contribute jointly to recognised associations like Rotary Clubs. Further, we also through our Secretariat in Mumbai send social and important updates on health cleanliness and other tourism improvement policies of the Central and state governments. We even promoted the government’s ‘Swachh Bharat’ campaigns at our various chapters and got our members to clean streets at a designated time and venue. It is very important for us to give back to the industry. The biggest initiative that we’ve taken is training of students in all our hotels under skill development. We are working with the Ministry of Tourism on this under the Hunar se Rozgar Tak scheme. These training courses range from 6-8 weeks and the only qualification for the same is to pass 10th or 12th grade. Such children, who do not have the means for professional courses, can have employment as well as a bright future after the trainings as they are absorbed in the hotel industry. We need professional skills and such activities result in talent generation. Other than that we are also involved in a number of environmental activities. We are supporting two girl children in Bengaluru through Rohini Ghadiok Foundation for their education, till they graduate. We also offered support at the time of Nepal earthquake through Skål Nepal, which also rebuilt a school there. We invited Mark Tuli and raised around 6-7 lakh, which were given for the Nepal earthquake victims through various means. We had also given aid to the Uttarakhand flood victims with Goonj. In addition, we help children who need support and financial aid after our committee’s approval on the same. We raised around 2-3 lakh through the Skål ball for this purpose and will be putting the money to good use very soon. CSR is on our agenda. Now that all large organisations have been advised by the government to devote a part of their profits to CSR so within the industry partners there are a number of partners that TAAI is aware or want to work with who are qualified for CSR activity and collectively with TAAI it could be a good beginning for us to get on some charitable cause as well. Something that comes to mind straight away is there a provision under CSR funding and that is training. So if some corporate who are ready to devote some funds towards training is interested in working with TAAI then I think we can go in this direction because education is required for strengthening this industry.