Gurugram, Oct 18, 2024: Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) has felicitated seven paralympians supported under ‘Samarth by Hyundai’ initiative for their outstanding achievements as it marked the culmination of the first year of the holistic social initiative to support people with disabilities in India.
Launched in 2023, ‘Samarth by Hyundai’ is aligned with Hyundai Motor Company’s global vision of “Progress for Humanity” and focuses on raising awareness and building a movement for the inclusion of people with disabilities in India.
In the past year, HMIL through 'Samarth by Hyundai' and its wide-ranging initiatives has worked to build awareness, offer support, and provide opportunities for people with disabilities, exemplifying its commitment to inclusivity. The company has made significant strides by creating awareness, accessible environments at HMIL dealerships, launching disabled-friendly vehicle accessories, and forging key partnerships with NGOs, media and other stakeholders to empower people with disabilities.
The culmination event held on Thursday featured felicitation of the seven Indian paralympians and presentation of 'Charter of Recommendation for Enhancing Accessibility and Inclusivity' to the government. The charter seeks government support to further the cause of inclusivity in India. HMIL reaffirmed its dedication to advocating for better policies and more inclusive infrastructure for people with disabilities.
The company also announced the launch of the “Samarth Hero Awards” to honour individuals and organizations contributing to the empowerment of people with disabilities.
The event was attended by many dignitaries from the Government of India, including Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of Sports; Dr Virendra Kumar, Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment; and Jayant Chaudhary, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship & Minister of State for Education. From HMIL, Unsoo Kim, Managing Director; Tarun Garg, Whole Time Director and Chief Operating Officer, JT Park, Function Advisor, Sales & Marketing; and NGO partners and stakeholders were also present at the event.
Speaking at the event, Unsoo Kim said, “At Hyundai, we believe in making a meaningful impact beyond mobility. ‘Samarth by Hyundai’ is a testament to our commitment to creating a more inclusive and equitable society for all. I am immensely proud of the strides we’ve made in our first year, and I thank our partners, stakeholders, and the government for their unwavering support. Together, we will continue to drive change and provide opportunities for people with disabilities, as we remain deeply committed to India and its people."
 Prof Srinivasan Raghavan, Chair of CeNSE IISc, Prof Govindan Rangarajan, Director IISC, Siddharth Jain, Director - INOX Group, Diganta Sarma, RBH - INOXAP and Dr Dhavala Suri, Asst Prof, CeNSE.JPG)
