Telecom network supplier Ericsson India today announced its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives in the country.
Ericsson has tied up with Smile Foundation to support 30 STeP centers in Gurgaon, Noida, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata for three years under the STeP Smile Twin e-learning program to provide access to education to underprivileged youth through training in basic computer, telecom and retail sales management skills – along with proficiency in spoken and written English.
This apart, Ericsson, as a part of the Smile on Wheels program, will support five mobile medical units across Noida, Gurgaon, Kolkata, Chennai and Bengaluru for three years to promote community health and increase the accessibility of healthcare services to the underprivileged and economically weaker sections of society.
Ericsson has also joined hands with NASSCOM Foundation to support the National Digital Literacy Mission (NDLM) to adopt and support 50 existing NDLM centers across India and train nearly 50,000 people on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for 18 eighteen months to create job opportunities for underprivileged youth.
“The corporate sector has shown great resolve in partnering with the Government in the National Digital Literacy Mission and we look forward to more companies participating by end of 2015,” said Ganesh Natarajan, chairman NASSCOM Foundation.
At present, Ericsson has partnerships and programs with NGOs in India including Plan International (India Chapter), Smile Foundation and Pratham Education Foundation for its Connect to Learn initiative that implements ICT in schools.
“Our partnership with Smile Foundation will enable us to transform the Indian society and economy in a constantly changing environment. Our partnership with NASSCOM Foundation aligns us to the Government of India’s vision of making one person in each household of the country digitally literate by 2020,” said Amitabh Ray, managing director of Ericsson India Global Services (In image).
