Sonitpur (Assam), June 22, 2024: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has inaugurated an elder care home Sonitpur which was constructed by Diageo India in collaboration with BharatCares and the state government.
“Diageo India donated this Elder Care Home for senior citizens, named 'Tapovan', which is located in Sonitpur, Assam. The company provided this accommodation under its CSR fund. The District Commissioner of Sonitpur has taken the initiative and completed the construction work. The ground floor of the Elder Care Home is now complete and the first floor will be constructed soon. Expansion to other locations will be planned in the future as demand increases. The Indian Council of Child Welfare will look after the Elder Care Home,” Sarma said at the event held on Friday.
The elder care home includes facilities like bedrooms, washrooms, dining area and kitchen, recreation area and is Persons with Disability (PwD) friendly.
Also present at the ceremony were Deba Kumar Mishra, Sonitpur District Commissioner; Prithviraj Rabha, MLA-Tezpur; Dr Lakshmi Goswami, President of Indian Council for Child Welfare (ICCW) – Tezpur; senior government officials; prominent individuals from Tezpur; and members from the Diageo India and BharatCares.
At the event Ashish Parikh, EVP & Chief Operating Officer, Diageo India handed over the completed project to the Sonitpur District Commissioner in the presence of the chief minister.
“Over the years, Diageo India has been partnering with the state on various CSR projects. Our community initiatives are aimed at enhancing Diversity and Inclusion of underrepresented groups. TAPOVAN in collaboration with BharatCares is a step forward in enhancing the welfare of elderly citizens who are often a vulnerable section in our society. In addition, we will continue to drive our CSR efforts in the state in line with our Society 2030 ESG plan,” Parikh said.
Diageo India has been actively involved the state of Assam through its CSR programmes. This includes providing healthcare facilities such as medical equipment to civil hospital and advanced life support ambulance, among others. Additionally, Diageo India has been enhancing employability and livelihood opportunities for individuals through its ‘Learning for Life’ programme. The programme focusses on providing training for the hospitality sector through a National Skill Development Council (NSDC) certified programme, with over 50% of the beneficiaries being women.
