Amway India partners with Samarthanam Trust for the disabled to set-up Braille-Audio Library in Chennai
Chennai, May 13, 2017 – Amway Indiain association with Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled
have set up a Braille & Audio library located at Samarthanam Trust for Disabled, Plot no 120,
Shri Bhuvaneshwari Nagar, 1 st main road, Velachery, Chennai. The Braille & Audio library was
inaugurated by well-known Actress & Writer Ms. Suhasini Maniratnam, and Mr. Rajeev
Dasgupta Vice President Manufacturing & Projects, Amway India.
The objective of setting up this library is to ensure easy access to braille books, besides which
the initiative also aims at encouraging braille reading and writing amongst the visually impaired
students helping them in building language proficiency. This library will cater to the individuals
across age groups, who otherwise have limited access to books. The library, as of now, is
stacked with over 200 books including academic books, fiction, self-help, general knowledge
etc. Besides Braille books, the library also provides an MP3 player facilitating the usage of books
in the audio format.
Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Suhasini Maniratnam, Actress & Writer, said, “I am happy to be
associated with this project of Amway. I know many home makers who have turned into
entrepreneurs thanks to Amway. I am delighted to hear about this library. Any library is a
great service and this one which is a braille library is a much better and noble cause. All of us,so
called good samaritans live in our cocoons. But initiatives like this make us open our hearts mind
and vision into other spectrums of the society that are disadvantaged. As a trustee of Naam
foundation, I am ready to lend my personal and 20 coaches and the 200 odd single women from
Naam and all our supports to endeavors such as this one. I am eager to visit Amway’s Dindugal
project as well where a lot of rural development and empowerment plans are underway. Thank
you for inviting me to be part of today’s event.”
Talking about the initiative, Mr.Rajeev Dasgupta, Vice President, Manufacturing & Projects,
Amway India said, “We have been working tirelessly towards the welfare of the visually
impaired with a firm belief that education and knowledge is the key to the future that create
opportunities transcending physical limitations. A Braille library is a key component of that
strategy. This year alone we have supported opening of 32 braille libraries across the country,
which are expected to benefit more than 11,000 visually impaired individuals. We are delighted
to have partnered with Samarthanam Trust for helping us set up Braille libraries in South India.”
“Digital Book Library, started in 2008, is aimed at making education accessible for the print-
disabled including visually impaired, dyslexic children and those with verbal processing
difficulties. The main idea of the centre is to smoothen the education for visually impaired kids
who have to go from pillar to post to get their books read,” says Mahantesh, Founder
Managing Trustee, Samarthanam Trust for the disabled. “We are extremely happy to associate
with Amway India for this venture” added Mahantesh.
Amway India’s 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 on 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 launched a village health
program targeted at 26 villages in the Dindigul district, to provide quality healthcare to the
underprivileged. A total of 144 health check-up camps (12 camps in a month) are being
conducted within a span of 12 months. The treatment includes general health check-up, select
pathological tests and medicines at zero cost to the beneficiaries.
As a key focus area, Amway has taken various initiatives to support the cause of visually
impaired. Amway also supports underprivileged children in education, health and hygiene
under a project titled ‘Sunrise’. Under this project, Amway currently supports more than 15 NGOs across the country.
