NTPC receives NCPEDP – Shell Helen Keller Award 2009

NTPC has received the prestigious NCPEDP – Shell Helen Keller Award 2009 from Union Minister of Human Resource Development, Shri Kapil Sibal for its practices, policies and belief in equal rights and gainful employment for persons with disabilities in New Delhi. Award was received by Shri R.C. Shrivastav, Director (HR), NTPC. Shri Shekhar Gupta, Editor, Indian Express presided over the function. Presently 476 individuals with physical disabilities are employed with NTPC out of these 96 are in executive cadre.

National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) honours individuals Companies/ organizations/ institutions sharing its vision and through their policies and practices demonstrating their belief in equal rights and employment for persons with disabilities. Other awardees in the category were IBM India Pvt. Ltd., Steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL) and Wipro Ltd. This is the third occasion that NTPC has received Shell Helen Keller Award. NTPC also received Govt. of India’s National Award for Best Employer (Physically Challenged).

At NTPC, Corporate Social Responsibility is an article of faith. Over the years, the company has established a healthy tradition of blending corporate growth and social commitment. One of the many CSR initiatives of the company is its belief in a diverse and all-inclusive workforce. NTPC rightly believes that just providing employment to people with disabilities is not enough; focused attention needs to be given to these employees both pre and post employment. Interactive meetings with physically challenged employees are organised on regular basis.

Equal Opportunity Cell-Information and Communication Training (ICT) Centre has been set up jointly by NTPC Foundation and Delhi University to enable the disabled students to learn IT Skills and helps them move along with the mainstream society. The centre is equipped with special software and hardware to cater to the training needs of disabled students having visual, hearing, mobility and cognitive impairments.

NTPC gives Scholarships to 5 Physically Handicapped (PH) students pursuing Degree in Engineering Course and 5 students pursuing MBA/ PGDBM Course amounting Rs.1500 each. NTPC- Vindhyachal has an exclusive school named Asha Kiran for deaf /dumb and mentally retarded children.

PRA/SKK