CSR Focus On Shelter for Underprivileged Must Be Improved

• Prime Minister’s dream of Housing for All By 2022 needs support from Corporate India
• Habitat for Humanity India invites corporates to work jointly for holistic development through ImPact 50:50 in 100 districts in a Public-Private-People’s Partnership (4Ps) approach

Mumbai | February 16, 2017 : Introducing the latest initiative ImPact 50-50, Habitat for Humanity India made a strong appeal to corporate India to consider shelter for the underprivileged as an equally important Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. Quoting key facts and figures, Rajan Samuel, Managing Director of the NGO Habitat for Humanity India stressed on the acute need for adequate shelter for those living at the bottom of the pyramid in India.

ImPact 50-50 initiative is Habitat India’s new strategy that envisions a long term partnership and involvement with the community and its supporters for sustainable growth and development panning multiple years. ImPact 50-50 is a multi–sector, multi–year and multi-donor approach to make Housing for All and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan a reality district by district in India. It calls for coming together of all stakeholders following the Public-Private-People’s Partnership (4Ps) approach. The strategy is demand driven and donor driven as it offers to work in 50 districts that are in need of developmental intervention and 50 districts where the donors would like to see a transformation. It aims to impact health, education, livelihood and skill building in parallel to our core intervention areas of housing, sanitation and disaster risk reduction and response (DRRR). The strategy is aligned with the national flagship programmes ‘Housing for All by 2022’ aimed at providing affordable homes for the families in need and ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ for eliminating open defecation in India by 2019.’

By 2022, India needs to develop 11 crore (110 million) housing units to meet the country’s vision of Housing for All. Habitat has built and repaired over 1,70,000 homes so far. In line with the Government of India’s vision of ‘Housing for All’ for all, Habitat believes that every person has the right to safe and adequate shelter.

Habitat India has helped over 1,95,000 families gain access to decent shelter, sanitation and has also rebuilt people’s homes and lives in the aftermath of disasters. By 2020, Habitat for Humanity India aims to impact the lives of 5,00,000 low-income families to help them achieve their dream of living in a safe and a decent home.

Commenting on the importance of decent shelter, Rajan Samuel mentioned, “A decent home opens the door to improved health, better performance in school, greater economic opportunities and increased community cohesion. Most indicators of the quality of life start improving when one has proper shelter. Having a decent place to live is foundational for families to thrive. We believe that the government needs to be supported by all of us, especially corporate India, through their CSR initiatives. We are ready to travel more than half way to make this happen. Every single one of us deserves the opportunity for a better future. We appeal to corporate India to come forward and support Habitat’s ImPact 50-50 strategy as part of your CSR initiatives. Join us and impact the districts in need with a holistic approach for integrated growth and development”.

Mr. Samuel further added, “It is encouraging to see a marked increase in charity contributions by India’s top philanthropists during last two years. I am also sure that 4,111 non-PSU companies (out of 7,108) and 84 PSU companies (out of 226) who have not spent anything on CSR in last two years, will start investing in India’s future soon. It will be great to observe corporates coming forward for contributing to the cause of providing shelter. Just imagine what India would look like in 2022 when every family has a decent place to live. With our help, families can achieve the strength, stability and self–reliance they need to build a better life for themselves and their families. Through shelter, we can empower.”

By Lokesh Shastri