TICL staff participated in an intra group initiative to promote alternatives / re-purposing of single use plastic, amongst the kids of Oscar Foundation, at the Cooperage football grounds. After a game of football, the kids were energized and gladly participated in a sit down play event, where they were told about the harmful effects of plastic on our environment. It was an interactive session, wherein the kids themselves answered why plastic was bad. As an exercise, we had them cut single use plastic bottles (water and soft drinks) into desirable shapes to be used as pen holders and garden plant pots. The kids were divided into teams, and the volunteers went around with the plastic, scissors paper

The staff of Tata Investment Corporation Ltd. during its Volunteering week, visited Sneh Sadan on 09.9.2018, an orphanage having 18 inmates (age group between 6 -18) being looked after by 3 nuns at Amboli, Andheri (West), Mumbai. Our staff spent some quality time with the kids, distributed groceries, and a pair of new clothes to the orphan children. The children were happy with their gifts. We later took them to watch a light, fun, educational Hindi movie “Halka” at a local multiplex, followed by Chinese lunch at a restaurant. The children thoroughly enjoyed their day, and acknowledged their thanks for having a good time.

10 Volunteers from Tata Investment Corporation Ltd. visited St. Mathew’s High School and College at Malwani, Malad on 16th September, 2017. The volunteers conducted a Quiz competition for Junior College students and also for Std. VIII & IX. The top two teams were awarded with gift items. TICL also conducted a drawing competition for 150 students divided into 3 classes and the top 3 winners from each class were given gifts items. The students also did a street play and a Dance item in appreciation of our visit. All the participants were given stationery items as a participation gift. The children were very enthusiastic and had won many medals in boxing / kho kho at state/national/international level. One girl had just won a gold medal at national level.

The volunteers from Tata Investment Corporation had visited multiple locations at Kalyan and interacted with the under privileged children of Brick-Klin workers. It had been an humbling experience for the staff and we distributed two pairs of trousers to the children. The activity was carried out with the help of an NGO ‘Prem Seva Mahila Mandal’ of Kalyan.

TICL staff visited the children at Snehasadan, on Sunday, 15th September, 2019. They took the children and the Sisters (care takers) of Snehasadan out for a Hindi Movie at Cinepolis, Andheri (west). The movie was followed by snacks arranged at Mcdonald’s outlet and the kids were dropped back at Snehasadan.

On Saturday, 22nd September 2018, the staff of TICL visited the Rotary Sanskardham Academy, as part of their voluntary activity to support the CSR initiatives of the Company. This school, situated at Unnat Nagar, Goregaon (W), caters to the schooling of children with special needs, especially the hearing impaired. Both, boys and girls are admitted to this institution, which mainly has children coming in from the nearby slums, and other underprivileged households. Other than the classrooms, the school has a gym, a computer lab, a library, and a play area. Our visit started with meeting the Principal and being introduced to a few of her students and helper assistants. The first activity organised was a round robin quiz, with 4 teams and 2 students per team. It was very heartening to see the little students attempt to recollect and answer the questions, without any hints or assists in the form of multiple choice. For the first time, we saw how the daily interactions with these students would go on a daily basis, comprising of sounds and sign language. Even though at first hearing one may interpret at as little more than gibberish or noise, the children were unfazed and fearlessly answered the questions to the best of their ability. This immediately showed me that the teachers at the school were building up a strong foundation for these students, teaching them to not be self conscious, or bother about the claps or laughs from others, but instead develop and rely upon themselves. I believe that this will ultimately lead to the build up of strong inner core strength of the students. While this going on, another section of slightly older students (around 14-19 y.o.) were each preparing a presentation to show us, based on 1 of 3 broad themes on saving the environment, water, and plastic pollution. They have a decently equipped computer room, internet access, a projector and a white board. They were assisted in their efforts by their guide, Ms. Neha, who herself has been a student in this school under Mrs. Lata Nayak. She has completed her MsC in __ and joined the school as a teacher. This is her way of giving back to the community and school, which gave so much to her. The success of the power-point presentation though left a lot to be desired, as the students clearly struggled conceptually, and would require a lot more effort to help them create something more lucid. Clearly, this was meant more as a building block, where the student gradually grows confident to put their ideas forth in their presentation, and develops public speaking / interacting skills with their audience. This confidence development was best brought out in the next event, which was the debate. 2 groups faced off each other, on whether the Ganpati festival should be celebrated with music on loudspeakers or not. It was fascinating to watch these students put forth their arguments in a cogent and logical manner, and not get fazed by their opposite team. It isn’t just academics, but even some of the innate talents of the kids are encouraged. The school is literally painted with the artwork of the kids, be it bone china mosaics on the wall, to decorative pottery, to wall painting on the staircase landings between floors. The meticulous rangoli designs created were beautiful to look at. The intricate mehendi designs were a joy to watch. Each standard comprises students of differing ages; some who are 22 are in the same class as that of a 16 y.o. This happens because many times the students are brought late for admission to the school by their parents. Intellectually, they are all at a similar level. Our evening ended with the kids performing a dance routine, followed by the prize distribution ceremony. The school gave out awards for the various competitions they had held in the day (most for which we were the judges), and we gave each child a box of chocolates. The kids were happy with their prizes, and we were happy to have put a smile on their faces. On speaking to Mrs. Lata Nayak, the principal of the school, I learnt that they face a lot of difficulties and pains in their endeavours here. Right from lack of qualified and motivated teachers, to students who come in a later stage, etc. Each student gets hearing aids for both ears, the subsidised cost being Rs.56,000/-. Of this amount, the parents are made to bear Rs.10,000/- which they pay in monthly instalments of Rs.200/- each. Earlier, when they distributed them free of cost, the kids and parents tended to be lackadaisical in approach and lost the hearing aids. By recovering part of the cost from the parents, it teaches them and the kids to be more responsible and careful with their belongings. Mrs. Lata also makes home visits and checks up on the surroundings and household environment of the kids. For all the people working here, right from the Principal, the teachers, and all the other support staff, this truly is a labour of love. Watching them in action was heart warming, and made me resolve to spend more of my time, and give in any way I can. They deserve all the help, monetary and otherwise, that we can give them.

Tata Investment Corporation Ltd. in its Volunteering week had visited on 17.9.2017 at Sneh Sadan, orphanage having 18 inmates (age group between 6 -18) being looked after by 3 nuns at Amboli, Andheri (West), Mumbai. 5 Volunteers distributed Groceries, stationery and footballs to the orphan children. Took them to watch an Hindi Movie at PVR and then for lunch at a restaurant. The children thoroughly enjoyed and acknowledged their thanks for giving them a good time.

Nana Palkar is an Institution which provides boarding and lodging to Cancer Patients free of costs who come from far away places for treatment of cancer at various cancer hospitals in Mumbai. Its gives shelter to the patients as well as a relative for one full month. Eight volunteers from Tata Investment Corporation along with representatives of Cancer Patients Aid Association conducted the Rose Day celebrations on 24th September 2016 with cancer patients at Nana Palkar. Firstly, there was a talk on Body – as a machine by a representative of Brahma Kumaris and thereafter the Company had arranged a musical programme for an hour for the inmates . The patients had good time and participated in singing and dancing with our volunteers. Thereafter, the Company sponsored their lunch and gifted hampers containing basic amenities to nearly eighty patients.

Some staff members of TICL visited the Nana Palkar Rugna Seva Sadan facility at Parel on 28th September 2019, and interacted with the staff and volunteers. We witnessed a live singing performance that is held monthly for the patients and the members staying with them. The staff at the facility explained how they came to be, the work carried out by them, and their future plans. They house about 70 cancer patients, who reside out of the city and have no other accommodation means here, for a maximum period of 30 days along with any 2 of their relatives who will look after them. They are provided subsidised meals for the duration of their stay. We then visited the patients in their respective rooms, met them and distributed gift bags to each of them.

The staff of Tata Investment reprised their visit from last year to the N.M. Petit Widows’ Home, this year as well on 7th September 2018. A quick brief of the Home: the facility houses several Parsi ladies who are widowed and not in a sound financial and familial state. They have either no one to take care of them (deceased spouse and no children) or have been abandoned by their family. The charity gets funds from various trusts for this purpose. Each lady who lives here receives some amount of monthly charity, and medical supervision by a visiting doctor. Each woman lives in a small room designated to her, which houses all her belongings, as well as daily food provisions, a refrigerator, a gas stove and cylinder, a wash basin and sink. They have a cot to sleep on, and a fan and tube light being the other amenities provided. The common bath and loo (2 per floor)are located close to the living quarters. The ladies at the Home remembered our last visit, though they couldn’t possibly remember any of our names. They welcomed us cheerfully into their rooms, and showed us around. We were happy to talk with them and spend time with them. They were thankful to the Petit Trust for getting a shelter over their head, and having a place to stay at this stage of their lives. Few of the ladies had difficulty in mobility due to their old age and medical afflictions. They interacted with all our staff, and were happy to have found a listening ear. As part of our CSR activity, we gave each occupant of the Widows’ Home a bag containing food provisions and daily essentials. The contents of the bag (appx. Rs.2,000/-) comprised of tea, sugar, oil, rice, pulses, butter, jam, biscuits, toothpaste, clothing detergent, hair oil, bathing soap, etc. The idea being that these would go some way in supplementing their provision requirements, and help them to cut costs in procuring the same. Some of the women we interacted with spoke at length, about their family, their conditions that brought them here. It was indeed a moving experience to hear their story, and one couldn’t help but feel sorry for a once proud people reduced to this plight. We still need to educate today’s children to look after their elderly in their hour of need, and develop a sense of empathy and caring. Better senior care is the need of our nation, and may many more such Homes prevail.

oday, on 8th September 2017, some of the staff of Tata Investment visited the N.M. Petit Widows’ Home, unbeknownst to us, on the same day that the Feast of Our Lady begins, popularly celebrated in Bandra as the Bandra Fair. The facility houses several Parsi ladies who are widowed and not in a sound financial and familial state. They have either no one to take care of them (deceased spouse and no children) or have been abandoned by their family. The charity gets funds from various trusts for this purpose. Each lady who lives here receives some amount of monthly charity, and medical supervision by a visiting doctor. Each woman lives in a small room designated to her, which houses all her belongings, as well as daily food provisions, a refrigerator, a gas stove and cylinder, a wash basin and sink. They have a cot to sleep on, and a fan and tube light being the other amenities provided. The common bath and loo are located close to the living quarters, 2 per floor. Even in their sparse condition, the women seemed cheerful, and thankful for getting a shelter over their heads. Some seemed to have difficulty in mobility due to their old age and medical afflictions. They appeared fresh and even though they may not sport the latest wear, their clothes were clean and neat. They gladly interacted with everyone who met them, and seemed eager to talk, have a kind, listening ear. Our Company as part of our CSR activity, provided each occupant of the Widows’ Home a bag containing food provisions and daily essentials. The contents of the bag (appx. Rs.2,000/-) comprised of tea, sugar, oil, rice, pulses, butter, jam, biscuits, toothpaste, clothing detergent, hair oil, bathing soap, etc. The idea being that these would go some way in supplementing their provisionary requirements, and help save their money that would otherwise be spent on these daily needs. Some of the women we interacted with spoke at length, about their family, their conditions that brought them here. It was indeed a moving experience to hear their story, and one couldn’t help but feel sorry for a once proud people reduced to this plight. Maybe better education to the children to look after their elderly in their hour of need, maybe tougher legislation is required. Till then, till such a time where better care prevails for the elderly, especially those in dire need, many many more such Homes are a welcome necessity in our country.

Our executives and their relatives visited ‘Sneh Sadan’, an orphanage housing around 15 less privileged children, located at Andheri, Mumbai. Children were excited to receive us and we spent time with them by watching a movie together and having a lunch at McDonald’s. Thereafter, we gave away gift hampers containing study materials and other goodies. We left the place with lot of satisfaction and joy and kids were also equally thrilled.

6 Volunteers from Tata Investment Corporation Ltd. visited Nana Palkare, at Parel. Palkare gives shelter for 1 month to a cancer patient along with one relative to stay free of cost to carry out the cancer treatment. TICL along with Cancer Patients Aid Association (CPAA) conducted a musical programme for them, then distributed a bag containing a pillow, bedsheet, soap, oil napkin etc. to 80 patients, including gifts for 3 children. Thereafter they were provided with lunch at the same place. The inmates were very happy and enjoyed at the programme.

On Saturday, 9th September 2017, we (8 staff of Tata Investment Corporation Ltd.) visited the Shraddha Rehabilitation Foundation at Karjat. The facility is located 2 kilometers from Karjat Station, on a 6.5 acre plot that comprises housing quarters for the patients and the staff, and farmland for growing crops and cattle rearing. Our visit began by meeting Mr. Denit Mathew, the medical and psychological officer who was our designated guide for the day. We got to meet and interact with some of the mentally challenged residents of this program (most of whom are schizoids) and social workers running the operations at this Center. Mr. Mathews patiently explained the details of how the program functions at the grassroots level, and the importance of this Center which is at the heart of the Foundation. It involves identifying the patients, meeting them and putting their mind at ease, and convincing them to come to the Center. Quite often, other social institutions and even the Police send people to them. Once here, they are fed, cleaned, treated by qualified doctors, and looked after. These people are suffering from severe psychiatric disorder, wherein they tend to forget some or all of their past. The patients are ensconced in a warm and loving atmosphere at this Center. Their schizophrenic affliction is symptomatically treated, till such a time as the patient recovers enough to remember and recount their place of origin, or their family members. Turnaround time ranges from 2-3 months. Efforts are then made by the Foundation to locate any relatives, and try to reunite these people with their families where they can be taken care of. In case they cannot afford it, medicines are also sent to their homes, free of cost. As of today, the Foundation has completed over 4600 reunions. Whilst there, we also learned of how these people come to be where they are, societal behaviour towards them, challenges faced in their treatment and relocation, and the costs associated therewith. Currently, the Center accommodates 119 patients (84 male, 35 female) as well as 53 staff. Taking care of these people is a full time job, and not necessarily monetarily rewarding. The work done by the social workers here can definitely be described as an act of love, one that is very much required in today’s world, and wholeheartedly deserves all the support it can get.

Tata Investment Corporation Ltd organized an employees voluntary activity on 22nd August, 2016 at St. Mathew’s High School where twelve volunteers from the Company spent time by interacting with underprivileged students by organizing a Computer Literacy Programme & Drawing Competition amongst 130 students. St. Mathew’s High School is situated at slum areas of Malvani, Malad where students from economically weaker sections generally come to study. Our volunteers had excellent time with the kids and gave away the prizes to the winners of the Competition and Consolation prizes to all the participants.