CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY TO THE FORE
Harsimrat Badal launches “Nanhi Chhaan”

Amritsar August 27, 2008

In a unique demonstration of their social responsibility, Punjab’s leading corporate house Ranbaxy today teamed up with the State Government and SGPC to start an initiative to preserve the Girl Child and the Environment. Titled Nanhi Chhaan, the project was formally launched in a simple function from the precincts of the Galliara of Sri Harmandir Sahib by Mrs. Harsimrat Badal, wife of Mr. Sukhbir Badal, MP and President SAD.

(Right) Mrs. Harsimrat Badal, wife of Mr. Sukhbir Badal, MP and President SAD.

Small saplings were distributed to the visitors at Sri Darbar Sahib by way of “Buta Parsad” for them to plant to welcome the newly born daughters in their households as well as the newly entrant daughter-in-laws. The organizers felt the initiative would help provide the necessary reverence and importance that environment protection should hold in our hearts and minds.

Speaking on the occasion, Mrs. Harsimrat Badal stated that female foeticide had grown into a major social curse that was plaguing the Punjab society in particular and would lead to serious demographic imbalances in the future. On the other hand, declining tree cover was also a cause of great environmental concern as it would make our development ecologically unsustainable. Today, there was an urgent need to mainstream both these issues and to take them to the common man through well-directed initiatives. “We are grateful to S. Harpal Singh and the entire Ranbaxy Group that have taken up this cause and used the noble message of our revered Gurus to generate awareness through the Nanhi Chhaan project”, she added.

Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal M.P. and President Shiromani Akali Dal, who presided over the function, said that this novel initiative was a true demonstration of corporate social responsibility and would go a long way in highlighting the twin issues of protecting the girl child and our environment. He exhorted other corporate houses of the State to also come forward and join hands with the State Government to jointly campaign on issues of social importance. He stated that the State Government was focusing on providing quality education as well as better healthcare for all to improve the State’s human resource.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, Information and Public Relations, Environment and Non-Conventional Energy Minister Punjab drew parallels between the girl child and Mother Earth and appealed to all Punjabis to remove this great social blot of female foeticide. He thanked the SGPC President for collaborating in this noble endeavour and exhorted the youth of Punjab to channelize their energies to fight these social and environmental problems.

S. Avtar Singh Makkar President SGPC, who also graced the occasion, stated that it was important for the Sikh community to correct these growing social imbalances and welcomed the initiative of the Impact Group. He stated that the initiative would help take the message of our Holy Gurus to each and every household and prove to be a guiding light for them.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Harpal Singh of the Impact Group stated that the Nanhi Chhaan project would add a new dimension to the concept of Sewa, which is a cornerstone of the Sikh faith, by involving the community in protection of the Girl Child and the Environment. Saplings not only of the plants and of trees mentioned in the “Bani” such as Neem and Ber would be given but also other species, which are suitable for the environment. By giving divine blessing to the planting of trees to commemorate the entry of a female into a household, environment protection would get the desired boost and add to its contemporary relevance and importance, he added.

Among others who were present on the occasion were DC Amritsar KS Pannu and a large number of political leaders of the district