Dow India Receives Golden Peacock Award for its Partnership with Mann Deshi Foundation

Company receives special commendation by Institute of Director (IoD) in its second year of program

Mumbai, India - January 29, 2019 - The Institute of Directors (IoD) awarded a ‘Golden Peacock Special Commendation’ to Dow India for its innovative partnership with the Mann Deshi Foundation. This is yet another recognition of Dow India’s commitment to three core tenets of corporate citizenship i.e. educator empowerment, classroom to careers, and community well-being. The Golden Peacock Awards are regarded as a benchmark of Corporate Excellence worldwide.

The award was presented during the 13th International Conference by Mr. Prakash Mehta – State Cabinet Minister for Housing Department, Maharashtra; Mr. Vijay Karla – CMD, Ravin Industries; Lt. J.S. Ahluwalia – President-IOD; Mr. Praveen Pardeshi – IAS (Additional Chief Secretary to Maharashtra Chief Minister) and Mrs. Rajshree Birla – Chairperson, CIRD Aditya Birla Group.

Congratulating the Dow India CSR team, Sudhir Shenoy, CEO, Dow India said, “ We have a shared vision with the Mann Deshi Foundation – to empower women through entrepreneurship, transform their lives and create the future they envision. Such shared synergies are critical for creating sustained value for beneficiaries, their families, and indeed the entire community. We will continue to support the Foundation through financial aid, technology support and employee volunteering”.

Dow India emerged as the winner amongst 338 companies who submitted their applications for the Award. The final shortlist included stalwarts such as Tata Motors Limited, Reliance Industries Limited, Mahindra & Mahindra, Aditya Birla, Vodafone Idea Limited, among others.

The Mann Deshi Foundation works to empower rural women to discover their entrepreneurial side through vocational training, financial literacy and inclusion. Dow India partnered with the Foundation to establish a center for the training and mentorship of rural women entrepreneurs in Chiplun, near the manufacturing site at Lote. Within the first year of operations, this center has positively impacted more than 2500 women, and has enabled over 800 women to establish or enhance their businesses.

In addition, Dow India sponsored the Mann Deshi Mahotsav in Mumbai for the second year in a row. The 2019 Mahotsav was a platform for 100+ women entrepreneurs from rural Maharashtra to reach out to the vast consumer market of ~45,000 attendees. We also leveraged this platform to further our circular economy efforts by promoting our RecycleReady packaging, as well as to encourage an aptitude for science among children via a collaboration with Agastya International.

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