Indian Vice-President calls for a national movt to empower women

India’s Vice-President, M Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday called for a national movement for women’s
empowerment and to ensure that no girl child is left out of school. Naidu said while the government’s flagship scheme ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ has “undoubtedly” created a positive impact, much more needs to be done to change the societal mindset.

In a Facebook Post titled “End Discrimination, Empower Women”, Naidu pointed out that with women
constituting about 50 per cent of India’s population, progress cannot be achieved unless they are given
equal opportunities in all spheres, including the political arena.

“We need to show in action and in deeds
that gender discrimination no longer exists—that should be our goal”, he stressed.

Urging all political parties to arrive at a consensus at the earliest on the long-pending proposal to
provide adequate reservation to women in parliament and state legislatures at the earliest, Naidu also
emphasized the need for giving equal property rights to women for their economic emancipation.

The Vice-President recently released a report- ‘Status of Sex Ratio at Birth in India’ which mentioned
that there has not been any change in the sex ratio at birth in India from 2001-2017- the number of girl
children born is much less than what is the general or natural norm. It was brought out by the Indian
Association of Parliamentarians for Population and Development (IAPPD).

Referring to the report, he said it is an alarming issue that needs to be addressed on a war footing by all
the stakeholders—from the society at large to parliamentarians, government, policy makers, opinion
leaders, media organizations and various organizations working to empower women.

Urging elected representatives at all levels to draw the attention of people in their respective areas to
the alarming aspect of skewed sex ratio, Naidu called upon every citizen to act as a warrior in completely
eradicating social evils like dowry system and in eliminating ‘son preference’ mindset.

Stressing the need for rigorous implementation of Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostics Techniques
(PC and PNDT) law to bring about a balance in the sex ratio, the Vice-President said there should be zero
tolerance towards any kind of discrimination or violence against girls and women.

Calling upon the people to collectively declare a war on poverty, illiteracy and other social hurdles
coming in the way of building a New India, Naidu wanted every Indian citizen, particularly the youth to
join in the “Yagna” (a ritual with a specific objective) of building a prosperous and happy India where
there will be no discrimination of any kind.

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DHFC-EAA to provide education to the underprivileged

Doha Festival City (DHFC) has
announced a partnership with Education Above All
(EAA) Foundation, in a bid to bring hope and real opportunity to the lives of neglected
and underprivileged children, youth and women.

The EAA Foundation was started by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser in 2012.

DFC collaborates with Education Above All Foundation for its 'Protecting Education' campaign | Qatar Living

The ‘Protecting Education’
programme seeks to achieve public support and maintain responsibility to the
ongoing threats to education and the pervasive abuse faced by children across
the world.

“Doha Festival City is committed
to social responsibility, and has always thrived to take an active part in
promoting major causes affecting the community. This year, the Back to School
initiative will support Education Above All Foundation’s ‘Protecting Education’
campaign,” DHFC said in a statement issued here.

Robert Hall, general manager of
Doha Festival City, said: “We are delighted to collaborate with Education Above
All Foundation and support them in their efforts to provide access to education
for children and youth in areas affected by poverty, conflict and disaster. We
are fully aware of the importance of education, not just for providing a better
life to a child but also towards the economic development of a country and
globally. We hope that Doha Festival City will continue to be the destination
of choice for our Community and will support us in this notable cause.”

Mubarak al-Thani, Communication
manager and head of Advocacy at EAA Foundation said his foundation appreciated
the efforts of Doha Festival City and its support for the ‘Protecting
Education’ campaign. “The donations will contribute to our mission to provide
quality education opportunities to the impoverished and marginalised, in order
to enable them to exercise their basic right to education and give them a
better chance to build their future,” he said.

With this collaboration, customers
at the mall can help bring disadvantaged children back to school by paying for
their favorite products while shopping from their brands.

Doha Festival City is running its
Back to School offers until September 9, during which major retailers will be
releasing their latest collection of school supplies, ranging from clothing
through to all school essentials.

Throughout August and September, patrons at the mall can directly contribute to the EAA Foundation through a donation box installed near West Court 2 at the DHFC mall.

By: Nawal Mukadam
Email Id:nawal-m@crowdteck.com

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Beirut mishap: Qatar Airways launches relief drive

Qatar Airways has launched a relief drive to provide
essential aid in Beirut in the wake of a devastating explosion there that
killed at least 160 people and wounded about 6000 others.

The airline informed that it has partnered with Qatar Charity (QC), Monoprix Qatar, and Talabat to deliver essential supplies free of charge from Doha to Beirut by Qatar Airways.

According to officials, Qatar airways will collect essential
supplies related to hygiene, housing, nutrition, medicines and rehabilitation.
Earlier, on August 9, Qatar Airways had carried over 45 tonnes of essential
supplies, donated by its employees, from Doha to Beirut under the guidance of
Qatar Airways Group chief executive HE Akbar al- Baker.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Lebanon
during this tragedy. In such difficult times, it has been touching to see so
many of our employees at Qatar Airways offering their support to the people of Lebanon
through donations,” said HE al- Baker.

“We are delighted to extend our aid programme to members of
the public in Qatar. Today’s freighter is one of three that we will fly to
Beirut,” he added.

The explosion in Lebanon’s port city of Beirut on August 4 killed at least 160 people and injured about 6,000 others. Buildings were damaged for miles around the city after 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, a highly explosive chemical used in fertilisers, stored at the facility for six years, reportedly caused the explosion.

By: Nawal Mukadam
Email Id:nawal-m@crowdteck.com

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Beirut mishap: Talabat App launches campaign for victims

Leading food and grocery distribution application Talabat on Wednesday announced it will donate all profits from food and non-food orders placed between 12 and 4 pm on August 8 with them to the victims of the Beirut explosion, that killed 160 people and injured 6000 others.

Francisco de Sousa, managing director of Talabat in Qatar announced the
middle eastern firm’s ‘#LunchforLebanon’ campaign, while voicing sympathy with
the affected. He said this campaign will be over and above other projects
already rolled out to aid the beleaguered city and urged people to support the
cause.

“I think we have all been affected by the
tragedy that unfolded in Beirut, and the outpouring of support from the region
has been a testament to that. Many of our employees, customers, and partners
are Lebanese and are heavily affected by the situation in Beirut, and our
hearts and thoughts are with them and their families. We, not only as Talabat
but as individuals, want to make sure that we’re doing everything we can to
help. This means using our platform as a vehicle to support the
initiative.”

Tomaso Rodriguez, chief executive officer
of Talabat said.

“We will be donating 100% of our profits to the recovery efforts in Lebanon. We are calling on other aggregators in our sector to join us, and make sure that #LunchforLebanon is an initiative right across our industry. Beirut needs us and this is a time where we need to join forces to help our beloved Lebanese people recover from this tragedy.” Rodriguez said in a statement.

By: Nawal Mukadam
Email Id:nawal-m@crowdteck.com

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Doha Bank donates QR 300,000 as aid to Beirut

Doha bank has donated QR 300,000
in response to a campaign, which was launched to
provide humanitarian aid in Beirut in the wake of a devastating explosion there
that killed at least 160 people and wounded about 6000 others.

The “Lebanon
in Our Hearts” campaign has been launched by Qatar Charity (QC), in
co-operation with Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) and Qatar Media Corporation
(QMC) under the supervision of the Regulatory Authority for Charitable
Activities (Raca) for Charitable Activities.

The campaign is
aimed at implementing humanitarian projects to contain the effects of the
disaster, starting with urgent response and early recovery.

Doha bank’s donation is aimed at
supporting a quarter of the population of Beirut, who were left with homes not feasible
to stay in, with buildings demolished by the massive blasts and subsequent
shock waves.

Chief Retail Banking Officer of
Doha bank Braik Ali al-Marri said, “Doha Bank extends its sincere and heartfelt
condolences to the Lebanese people on the disaster that struck them. Our
contribution of QR300,000 to the ‘Lebanon in Our Hearts’ fundraising campaign
is channeled towards assisting the victims of that tragic incident and
equipping them with all the necessary needs, from food items to medical
supplies and clothes in a bid to compensate them for their losses.”

Notably, Doha Bank strongly
supports charity and initiatives rendered by several other NGOs to help the
disadvantaged in line with its policy goals. The bank’s donation towards the “Lebanon in Our Hearts” campaign associates
with Qatar’s commitment to assist the affected Lebanese citizens and in
accordance with its activities as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

The explosion in Lebanon’s port city of Beirut on August 4 killed at least 160 people and injured about 6,000 others. Buildings were damaged for miles around the city after 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, a highly explosive chemical used in fertilisers, stored at the facility for six years, reportedly caused the explosion.

By: Nawal Mukadam
Email Id:nawal-m@crowdteck.com

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Qatar Airways launches initiative to empower NGOs

In a bid to empower Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) to use its freight facilities to distribute essential items free of cost amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Qatar Airways has launched a ‘We Qare-1Million Kilo’ initiative, aimed at furthering the United Nation’s sustainable development goals.

Speaking about the initiative launched in mid-July, the airways’ Chief Officer of Cargo Guillaume Halleux said NGOs will not have to pay anything to distribute medical supplies and humanitarian assistance between July and December this year.

“With ‘We Qare’, Qatar Airways Cargo hopes to create a sense
of fulfilment within our industry – whether by supporting charities, reducing
our carbon footprint, fighting to protect wildlife, or promoting equality, diversity,
young people and culture,” Halleux said in an interview with Air Cargo News.

He said Qatar Airways, the world’s largest international freight carrier, according to International Air Transport Association (IATA) statistics, wants to set an example, both from a business viewpoint and in terms of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and added that the initiative allow it to play a part in building tomorrow’s world.

“We want to play an active and leading role in moving
mindsets forward within our industry for the sake of its future,” said Halleux
and added that an industry made up of committed stakeholders who care about the
impact of their actions and who work to achieve sustainable economic
development is vital.

He further said while the next phase of the project is still
being formed, Qatar Airways hopes that it will encourage the industry to be
more responsible for the adverse effect air freight has on the environment.

Halleux said amid the COVID-19 pandemic, much of the
humanitarian assistance would be passive pharmaceuticals and medical supplies
but could also contain food products or other necessary things and that these
products will be transported to any place in the world, as long as the network
of the carrier permits.

“To ensure our business activity is inclusive and can continue in the long term, we need to put sustainability at the heart of the air freight sector’s concerns. Currently, there is nothing in our industry to unite us around the issue of sustainability,” Halleux rued.

By Nawal Mukadam
Nawal-M@crowdteck.com

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Any action undertaken for a social purpose is CSR: Mohammed Sayeed

Any action undertaken to uplift
economically weaker sections of the society is Corporate Social Responsibility,
according to Mohammed Sayeed Abdul, Co-Founder and Director of Eswift Software,
an India based provider of IT consulting services and custom software
development.

In a free-wheeling interview with
crowdteck.com, Sayeed, who is also a passionate speaker on thought leadership
and activities of social concern, shares his ideas on leaving a well paying job
in the United States, the importance of CSR and “#Project25,” a Relief
Programme initiated for those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Excerpts from the interview:

Q. Tell us something about Eswift Software and its programs?

A. After a highly successful stint at a
company in Florida (USA), I decided to relocate to Hyderabad for entrepreneurship.
We had a clear vision of how our organization was going to operate. We are a product-based
business and have developed several e-learning programs since that is my team’s
expertise. We are also into providing services – we design and develop
Microsoft based products. Basically everything from web applications, to mobile
applications and web portals.

Q. What makes a company socially responsible, in your opinion?

A. Every business should ask this question
to themselves. I believe we are accountable to the society. Only if businesses
recognize the need to give back to society and the joys of actually doing so,
will they realize their act benefits both, the giver and the taker.

Q. What motivates you to undertake CSR activities?

A. I believe that CSR is any action that you
participate in, for a social purpose. My modest upbringing has inculcated
values of contributing to the betterment of the community. While some are busy
making money, which is surely a valuable aspect, it is most important to build
a progressive community which can later be used to expand your business. We
should use that privilege as our core strength to invest time in giving back to
society.

Q. How do you implement your CSR projects? Do you collaborate with NGOs or is it done directly?

A. NGOs are particularly associated with
the community and its citizens on a certain level and therefore cater to issues
that are personal to people in certain ways. We therefore like to partner with
them to support them in the best possible way. It may not always be tangible
aid, but yes, we are utilizing our resources and references for their sake and
safety. We encourage NGOs to use tools diligently to enable them to minimize extra
work through effective database management and awareness-raising by bulk
WhatsApp messages and email marketing in one go, which they have not done
before. We have also developed a system where we identify a household or a society,
that was part of a food campaign, and which was not, so that essentials and
food could be shared evenly with the underprivileged.

Q. Please explain “#Project25” relief program that you have initiated for people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic?

A. This pandemic has affected people from all walks of life. We wanted to help people as much as possible because we knew that they would not be willing to come forward and seek specific assistance. We initiated the “#Project25” relief program, in which we encouraged people to donate funds to 25 households, to help them survive. Also, we established donation guidelines, checked health condition of family or a person, and later exchanged money as an assisting hand. It was incredibly surprising, when we witnessed the community response we got. The monetary contributions we received was above our estimates, and we were able to undertake two big phases of “#Project25” to directly support communities in different phases who have been seriously badly by the pandemic.

By: Nawal Mukadam
Email Id:nawal-m@crowdteck.com

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