Fullerton India organizes ‘Pashu Vikas Day’ for the second consecutive year
- Part of a ‘Livelihood Advancement Program’ spread over 190 branch locations
- To benefit over 40,000 cattle across 20,000 households in 250 villages
- Participation from more than 2500 Fullerton India employees
Fullerton India, a leading non-banking financial company enters into the second year of its unique initiative – ‘Pashu Vikas Day’, India’s largest cattle care event. This year the camps were held across 190 Fullerton India branches in nine states, including Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Punjab and Tamil Nadu.
A part of Fullerton India’s ‘Livelihood Advancement Programme’, ‘Pashu Vikas Day’ involves setting up of cattle-care camps, whilst reaching out to cattle owners to inform, educate and provide free treatment and medicines for the health of their cattle. The initiative is aimed at improving cattle productivity and enhancing household income of rural families. The activity is expected to positively impact approximately 40,000 cattle across 20,000 households in 250 villages. Over 2500 Fullerton India employees were engaged in the activities this year, making it the largest initiative of its kind.
Commenting on this initiative Rakesh Makkar, EVP & Head – Business and Marketing, Fullerton India said “Pashu Vikas Day is a part of our ‘Livelihood Advancement Programme’ and caters to a wide audience, benefitting over thousands of households. After a successful program last year, Pashu Vikas Day enters its second year with a stronger commitment towards the overall development of rural India. Last year the camps were organized at 115 locations and post receiving an overwhelming response from the villages, we decided to increase it to 190 locations this year. We plan on expanding our service every year, further strengthening our commitment to cattle care and rural development.”
Cricketer Irfan Pathan inaugurated the camp held at Shivdaspura village, at Chaksu near Jaipur in Rajasthan. Airing his views on the occasion, he said, “It is my second year of association with Pashu Vikas Day and I am glad to be a part of the noble initiative. Cattle are an important part of the ecosystem, and are often neglected due to lack of knowledge. Fullerton India has taken up the initiative of addressing the issue through Pashu Vikas Day and I wish them all the success in continuing the initiative in the years to come.”
Fullerton India’s rural financial service, Gramshakti has touched more than 8 lakh Indian households across India, under its initiative ‘Livelihood Advancement Programs’. ‘Pashu Vikas Day’, one of its major initiatives was institutionalized last year and cattle care camps were organized across the country on a single day. Over 150 villages were covered, spread across 115 branches in 7 states. Nearly 10,000 households benefitted from the initiative and 20,000 cattle were treated at these camps. The activity was driven by 1500 employees, making it a grand success.
Some other initiatives undertaken by Fullerton India are ‘Jeevika’, Gurukul-Skill development program for youth, Health checkup camps at 5 locations and ‘Save the Eye’ camps that are running since January, 2008. In addition, the company organizes regular Tree Plantation Drives and Disaster Relief. This year the company expanded its ‘Save the Eye’ initiative to Bhubaneshwar (Orissa) and Siliguri (West Bengal) in the East, Rajamumdary (Andhra Pradesh) and Tirupur (Tamil Nadu) in the South and Indore (Madhya Pradesh) in Central India, where quality eye care is provided to economically weaker sections of the society.
This year the NBFC player took up a great initiative of protecting children from classroom hunger, increasing school enrolment & attendance, and addressing malnutrition in Hospet (Karnataka) and Padra (Gujarat) through its mid-day meal initiative program.
