Hyderabad, July 28, 2016: State Bank of India, the largest banking and financial services Institution in India, today donated Rs 115.37 lakhs for Ophthalmic Equipment for non-paying patients and surgery equipment for an operation theatre to L V Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad.
On this occasion, SBI Chairman Ms Arundhati Bhattacharya inaugurated the new facilities at the “Centre of Excellence” of L V Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad. The Chief General Manager of Hyderabad Circle Shri Hardayal Prasad was also present. Ms Arundhati Bhattacharya lauded the Institute’s services in the area of eye care covering the whole gamut of basic eye care for the poor people at their doorsteps, clinical research on the eye diseases, training, product development and rehabilitation for those with incurable visual disability. She stated that SBI which has pioneered and revolutionised the Banking in the Country is also the pioneer in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities.
Social responsibility is an integral part of its business and a key aspect of its Corporate strategy since 1973. The Bank sets aside 1% of its net profit for CSR initiatives. The Bank’s CSR initiative had made a true difference in the lives of millions of under privileged communities. She reiterated the Bank’s commitment to the economic and social wellbeing of the socially impoverished. During the year 2015-16, the Bank had spent Rs 143.92 crores under CSR.
Ms Arundhati Bhattacharya said, SBI spends 1% of its annual profit on CSR and is focussing on Healthcare, Education, Livelihood, Sustainability and Integration of disabled through CSR. We are glad to be part of this initiative at L.V. Prasad Eye Institute, we have installed six examining rooms and an operation Theatre worth Rs 1.15 cr, to treat non-paying patients. She said blindness is difficult to overcome and is prevalent in our country.
As part of CSR, we are establishing 'Digital Villages' to empower all in the village. Through these we will create a Wi-Fi environment in the village and educate villagers on banking services, on how to do bank transactions thus making a much less cash society, to give them access to education material, provide link up to healthcare centres through Tele-medicine. We have established 21 such villages 3 of which are in this state and aim to 100 Digital Villages by March, 2017. We will explore if we can connect LV Prasad Eye Institute in the Digital Village program for eye care. We have initiated Organ Donation registration of all our employees and their families, we can seek your help and integrate your Institute for eye donations.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Gullapalli N Rao, Founder and Chair, L V Prasad Eye Institute said, “The generosity of our friends and supporters continue to grow, making it possible for us to offer state-of-the-art treatment to all our patients, irrespective of their social strata. We convey our deepest sense of appreciation to the members of the SBI Group for making this generous contribution.”
Globally, 285 million people are vision impaired, of whom nearly 40 million are blind. LVPEI has succeeded in taking high quality, comprehensive eye care to all sections of people in the remotest rural areas through its innovative pyramidal model of delivery. The prime goal of the institute now is to ensure that elimination of avoidable blindness is sustained to the maximum extent through this model.
State Bank of India, Hyderabad Circle has donated a total of Rs 8.00 Crores during 2015-16 under various Corporate Social Responsibility activities. The donations cover a wide range of activities viz., Sanitation, Health and Education & Environment appropriately acronymed S.H.E. The Circle had donated Rs 2.20 Cores under “Swatch Bharath Campaign” for construction of 103 toilets in the schools of Adilabad district of Telangana State. Under the area of health, Rs 4.40 Crores have been donated for Ambulances (16), Medical equipments, Wheelchairs and Stretchers across the States of Telangana and AP. Under education, three villages have been adopted as “Digital Villages”. SBI has also provided solar lights in 87 villages in both the states. The Circle has planted 1,50,000 trees on the occasion of 61st Bank Day Celebrations at hospitals, schools, parks, etc.
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