Relaxo Foundation campaigns for a healthy and educated rural India

~the Foundation starts 3-year long ‘Mobile Medical Unit’ activity and ‘Tab Lab’ project in Bhiwadi, Rajasthan under its CSR activities~

Relaxo Foundation, CSR arm of the India’s leading Footwear Company, Relaxo Footwears Ltd. in partnership with Smile Foundation has started, ‘Mobile Medical Unit’ in Bhiwadi, Rajasthan. The Mobile Health Van will be equipped with modern medical facilities for the better health of rural communities. In another initiative, the company has also kick-started its Education program, ‘TAB LAB’ for two rural government schools in Bhiwadi district. Both CSR programs will be implemented for next three years.

In the rural Bhiwadi, availability, accessibility and affordability of the health services is a big challenge that causes huge pain and suffering to the people. Considering this, Relaxo Foundation, initiated the ‘Mobile Medical Unit (MMU)’ equipped with doctors, pharmacist, and diagnostic services (Blood/Urine test & ECG). Along with curative services, the project will also work on health education to spread awareness on various diseases and their prevention. The van will cover 14 villages near its manufacturing units and will reach out to approximate 15000 patients annually.

Relaxo CSR has taken education as a prime focus area to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education. The ‘TAB LAB’ Project’ is equipped with the Android-powered tablets and is specially designed by the Inclusive India Foundation for the rural government schools to facilitate interactive and enjoyable learning to students in their local language. Relaxo Foundation is implementing this project in two Government schools in Bhiwadi covering more than 500 students of class VI to X.

Speaking about both initiatives, Ms. Rupali Agarwal, Manager, CSR, Relaxo Foundation said, “Today, one of the biggest challenges for the rural communities is the accessibility of health services. Lack of awareness and skilled health workforce has lead to higher incidence of morbidity and mortality. Considering these health challenges, Relaxo has initiated ‘Mobile Medical Unit (MMU)’ program. The objective of this activity is to reach out to more people and provide them the required medicines, consultancy and care for a healthy lifestyle.”

“Approx 50 million kids in India cannot read, write or do basic math and most of these kids are in rural schools, which lack electricity and internet. Large-scale rural education development and technology initiatives have failed because they do not provide long-term teacher training and support. The main mission of ‘TAB LAB’ project is to partner with rural schools to transform teaching and learning and revolutionize rural education, she added.

In ‘Tab Lab’ project, one lab in each school will be set up with 20 tabs. The tabs would have pre-installed interactive videos, games, syllabus of science, English and maths content in the local language, which are completely aligned with Rajasthan Board. Every student will have separate login details to us the tab, so that activity report of each student can be generated. Both CSR programs are undertaken after baseline study and community consultation research carried out by Relaxo Foundation.