36

PRAYAS Trust, Chennai and L&T unveiled its state-of-the-art Medical

Centre which will cater to the needs of over 150 patients each day,

at Virugambakkam on January 19, 2012. The new two storied

525 sq.m building, located diagonally to the existing PRAYAS medical

centre, was inaugurated by Mr. A.M. Naik, Chairman & Managing

Director, L&T.

Following Mr. Naik, Mr. A. Ramakrishna, Former Joint Managing

Director and Mrs. Suryakumari Ramakrishna, Founder-President,

PRAYAS Trust unveiled the plaque of the Out-patient Department

on the ground floor.

Mr. K.V. Rangaswami, Advisor to Chairman along with Mrs. Chitra

Rangaswami, President, PRAYAS Trust unveiled the plaque at the

Surgical Unit on the first floor. Mr. S.N. Subrahmanyan, Member

of Board & Senior EVP, along with Mrs. Meena Subrahmanyan,

Trustee, PRAYAS Trust unveiled the Dhanvanthari Hall on the

2nd

floor.

New PRAYAS Medical Centre Inaugurated To Expand

Medical Service To A Larger Community

Mr. A.M. Naik addressing the gathering at the inaugural function

Inauguration

of various

departments

37

Speaking during the occasion,

Mr. Naik highlighted the

organisation’s commitment

towards serving the

community and assured that

the L&T leadership would

always support such CSR

efforts urging the PRAYAS

team to do more.

Mr. A. Ramakrishna

appreciated the dedication of

the PRAYAS team towards community upliftment from its

very inception, and wished them all success in this

endeavour. Mr. K.V. Rangaswami referred to the early

humble days of PRAYAS, when the spouses of L&T

employees served the

community with limited

resources and expressed his

delight towards realising this

dream which will help in

doing yeoman service to the

less privileged sections of the

society. Mr. S.N.

Subrahmanyan shared his

thoughts on the CSR

objectives of the organisation

and said that such medical

Mr. and Mrs. S.N. Subrahmanyan

inaugurating the proceedings by

lighting the lamp

A glimpse of various facilities

centres would be needed at other locations across India as

well.

Dr. K.J. Kamat, Medical Director, L&T Powai, who was

instrumental in setting up the facilities at the new centre,

Mr. A.M. Naik seen with

Senior Executives

October - December 2011 37

38

along with Dr. Usha Krishna, elaborated that a Medical

Officer, two General Physicians, with visiting consultants

will be available at the centre which will primarily

concentrate on Mother & Child healthcare.

The working hours of the new Medical Centre will be

from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (as against 4 hours at the old centre).

The diagnostic lab with all the necessary test facilities will

enable routine tests conducted free of cost; an X-ray unit

and an ultrasound machine is also to be installed soon. The

new centre has an operation theatre with facility to perform

laparoscopic sterilisation surgery with a three bedded day

care recovery room. In the near future, the centre will

scale to provide free child vaccinations with the help of

government aided programs. A multi-purpose

‘Dhanvanthari Hall’ on the 2nd floor is for conferences,

workshops and awareness camps.

Earlier, Mrs. Nirmala Anantha Kumar, Secretary PRAYAS,

welcomed the gathering and set the context, while Mrs. Bala

Shankari Ananathasubramanian, Treasurer, proposed the

vote of thanks.

A cross-section of the audience

October - December 201138

PRAYAS members at the inauguration function

39

Children’s Day Celebrations

at Guild of Service

PRAYAS has a date every year on November 14th

(Children’s Day)

with the children of Kavitha Memorial School for Handicapped

(Guild of Service) Anna Nagar. This Children’s Day was another

memorable occasion for the members to meet, interact and

celebrate with the little ones.

The PRAYAS members were given a musical

welcome by the young in-house musicians who

have been well trained by the school to give a

standing performance.

Ms. Maya Nair, Joint Secretary, Guild of

Service-Anna Nagar gave an introductory

speech about the institution. Mrs. Nirmala,

Secretary – PRAYAS Trust, shared a few

words on the significance of celebrating

Children’s Day and the happiness this occasion

brings on being with the children.

PRAYAS members had purchased thoughtful gifts

to the winners of the competitions held earlier and

presented them during the course of the day.

Chocolates were also given to the children. As a

customary practise, PRAYAS sponsored the lunch and

also donated two pedestal fans to the institution.

Sri Harihara Sudha Seva Samithi, a home for the aged, has since long been a recipient of PRAYAS Trust’s munificence.

On October 15, 2011, the PRAYAS team visited the home and interacted with the members. The 30 plus inmates were

delighted with the arrival of PRAYAS members and welcomed the team to join the on-going bhajan singing. For most

of the inmates the interaction provided an opportunity to express their feelings and solace offered at the home.

A visit to Sri Harihara Sudha

Seva Samithi (Home for the Aged)

October - December 2011 39

40

Over 250 benefit from Free Eye Camp

Over 250 people living in and around CRR Puram near

Virugambakkam, Chennai benefited from a free comprehensive eye

camp conducted jointly by PRAYAS Trust and Sankara Nethralaya

Eye Hospital on December 17, 2011. A team of 25 optometrists

headed by Dr. Sheila John, Head Tele Ophthalmology, screened the

patients all through the day.

A detailed audio-visual presentation on eye awareness was given to

all patients during the initial screening. The camp included Diabetic

Retinopathy where diabetic patients undergo intensive screening

and further treatment through laser photocoagulation.

Out of those screened, eighteen cases will be operated for a free

cataract surgery and over a hundred people were given free spectacles.

Three special cases that were detected with Glucoma, operated retinal

detachment and healed choroiditis have been recommended for

immediate treatment at Sankara Nethralaya.

The public at CRR puram expressed their profound happiness when

they were informed that a free Intra-Ocular Lens Fixation (IOL) follow-

up for the patients will be done at the PRAYAS Medical Centre by

Sankara Nethralaya staff and further reviews will take place at Sankara

Nethralaya.

Inaugurating the camp at Narayanababu Vidyalaya School, Mr. B. Ramakrishnan,

EVP Head, Finance & Accounts, L&T Construction, said that L&T has been

involving itself in many significant CSR activities through its PRAYAS Trust. He also told the gathering about the

inauguration of the state-of-the-art Medical Centre constructed by L&T at Virugambakkam in January 2012, with the

aim of providing advanced health care services to the less privileged people. He reiterated the importance of eye care

and appreciated Sankara Nethralaya immensely for their philanthropic service to the society. Dr. Sheila John thanked

L&T for the opportunity to collaborate for the third consecutive time and appreciated L&T’s service motto.

Mr. B. Ramakrishnan, EVP & Head, Finance & Accounts, L&T

Construction, addressing the gathering

October - December 201140

41414141 October - December 2011

Orientation to Skills Development in Primary Health Care

A two-day programme on primary health care issues was

organised for PRAYAS Trust members at HQ Chennai.

Mrs. Saras Bhaskar – Counselling Consultant & Corporate

Coach was the faculty for the programme. The topics

covered broad aspects of communication, teamwork,

recognising and managing social issues efficiently, managing

conflicts, making appropriate referrals, understanding and

handling specific issues, secondary trauma, self-care and

motivation.

The first-day focussed on elucidating the essence of

communication through role plays. The basic purpose of

counselling, which is to assist those who seek help to make

their own decision from among choices available to them

was explained through various examples. This was followed

by a session on principle of barefoot counselling which

comprised of active listening, empathy, understanding,

objectivity and un-bias. Group activities were given to the

participants and common counselling mistakes, issues faced

by counsellors with regard to primary health care were

discussed through case studies and live examples. The

concept of team work and strategy planning was

demonstrated through group activities. The recipe for a

successful team and creativity was identified and discussed

through a group activity.

On the second day, groups were formed based on their

association with PRAYAS and members were asked to

develop a mission statement keeping in mind the individual

interest and overall objective of service.

Following this, there was a session on conflict management.

Specific issues on domestic violence were discussed through

case studies. The significance of dealing with secondary

trauma which is an inevitable part

of a counsellor’s job was explained

in detail to the participants. The

concept of adapting, developing

resilience and practicing of

detached attachment was taught.

The workshop concluded with an

emphasis on self-care and

motivation highlighting the need

for physical and psychological

well-being.

October - December 2011 41

Mrs. Saras Bhaskar – Counselling Consultant & Corporate Coach,

addressing the PRAYAS members

PRAYAS members

at the programme

42

Computer Centre Established for Andal Ashram’s Girls

Upliftment of Girl child has become an important agenda in

the CSR activities of many Companies who are aiming at

using education as an agent for basic change in the status of

women in the society.

Divisional Corporate, Bangalore also adopted this policy and

did their bit for upliftment of girl child. Accordingly, a

computer centre was set up in the senior girls’ home of Andal

Ashram, Rajaji Nagar, Bangalore which is providing education

and training to 45 junior and senior girls from under privileged

families. Five computers in good working condition have been

installed in the premises and a brief orientation was given on

November 2, 2011.

Internet & Computer Training for Senior

Citizens and Homemakers

As part of SURABHI’s expansion plans for the year 2011-12, an internet

centre was established at Surabhi’s Vocational Training Centre. Basic

computer and internet skills were introduced on October 2, 2011,

coinciding with Senior Citizens’ Day and Gandhi Jayanthi.

Mr. T.R.R. Rao, Head – Technical Services, LTK and Mrs. Shailaja,

Sub-Divisional Engineer, BSNL were the Chief Guests on the occasion.

Since this is an inclusive programme, reaching out to everyone in the

community from all walks of life, be it students, youth, homemakers,

senior citizens by way of imparting training, monitoring their future viz.

how many students/drop-outs would get jobs, who would pursue

education are statistics to be maintained by Surabhi.

Trainees who complete the course successfully will become eligible

for Course Completion Certificates. Microsoft Corporation has

supported with framing curriculum, guidelines and format for

Certificate. A quarterly report will be sent periodically to Microsoft

for their record.

Project NEEV –

Donation of Artificial Limbs

On October 7, 2011 SURABHI conducted a camp for donating ‘Artificial Limbs’

to the needy in association with the Bhagawan Mahaveer Jain Hospital – Marwari

Youth Association.

Mr. S. Gopal, Chief Executive of LTK inaugurated the camp by way of lighting

the lamp and donating an artificial limb to the disabled. SURABHI team sponsored

for 20 patients, who had lost their legs due to various reasons.

Amputees can walk more normally on the new device because they can feel the

ground and adjust their gait appropriately. Some patients fitted with an artificial

leg also undergo physical therapy. The Jaipur Limb is so efficient that after this

limb is fitted, a person can walk like a normal person without a stick or support,

and even run, ride a bicycle and climb a tree. This will be an ongoing project

of SURABHI.

October - December 201142

43

Vegetable Patch “Surabhi Shaakavatika”

On October 7, SURABHI started a vegetable patch “Surabhi Shaakavatika” in

the premises near the training centre, so that vegetables grown in the campus

can be used in the canteen. CE Mr. Gopal and DCE Mr. Yanagisawa inaugurated

by sowing some of vegetable seeds. Following this, LTK Officials, Union Leaders

and lady members also sowed some vegetable seeds.

In the beginning, the initiative is being started with potatoes, onions, tomatoes,

bottle guard etc. where there are possibilities of reaping abundant quantities

which should be sufficient for the canteen kitchen. This is an ongoing project

of SURABHI and will gradually aim at growing varieties of vegetables.

Visit to RUDSET

SURABHI Members took the villagers of Dyavarahalli to the Rural Development

and Self Employment Training Centre (RUDSET) at Arasinakunte. The officials

explained in detail about the various training courses. The institute which was

started in 1996 has given training to 14,000 persons till date and has a job

success rate of 76%. Agreeing to SURABHI’s request, the officials have assured

to organise a special module “Multi Products” training for 15 days for making

food, bakery products and home consumption products (phenyl, detergent,

candle, pappad, pickle, etc.). Trainees who receive certificate on completion

are eligible to avail loan through registered SHGs (Self Help Group) by

approaching Canara Bank, Devanahalli Taluq.

Since there are around 100 families in the village, the officials have requested

them to make use of the various training modules for overall development. Canara Bank and RUDSET have offered all

support and felt proud to include Dyavarahalli in their books for Community Development activities along with LTK.

Eye Camp for Contract Workers of LTK

SURABHI in association with Sankara Nethralaya organised a free eye

screening and counselling camp for the contract employees (underprivileged)

working in the factory on December 7, 2011.

A team of optometrists from Sankara Nethralaya carried out thorough eye

examination of each and every patient including dispensing of spectacles on

the spot, identifying cataract surgery and those who needed only medication

for various other eye ailments. At the end of the day 134 patients registered,

104 were screened and 67 were given spectacles (10 single vision and 57

bifocal), 15 patients were referred to the hospital for some tests due to minor

eye ailments like retina problem, squint evaluation and cyclo refraction, glaucoma etc. 6 patients were found to have

cataract. One patient was found to have a fully matured cataract, which needed immediate treatment. The patients were

referred to the hospital for surgery.

October - December 2011 43

Sports for Village Students

A sports meet for the children of Government Lower Primary School,

Dyavarahalli was arranged as part of the Education Project, on December

28, 2011. The events included many fun games and also had sessions on

memory testing, altertness testing etc. Village women too participated

along with the children in some of the competitions and thoroughly enjoyed

the sporting activities. All through the various events there was an

enthusiastic participation from children and it was great to watch the

young talents engage in good games of sportsmanship.