Newly announced Omega Forum for Social Impact integrates healthcare with socio-economic upliftment

New Delhi, November 7, 2023: Omega Healthcare has announced the evolution of its CSR wing into the Omega Forum for Social Impact (OFSI). The forum, registered as a Section 8 Company, integrates healthcare with socio-economic upliftment, focusing on areas like maternal, menstrual, and mental wellness. OFSI's approach combines preventive and curative health services to foster resilient and self-sustaining communities.

OFSI was set up as an independent foundation with the aim of extending and amplifying Omega Healthcare’s community development initiatives.  The firm has supported over 200,000 individuals and is looking to expand its scope beyond the traditional limits of corporate CSR. Their goal is to empower women as decision-makers and drivers of community prosperity through entrepreneurial enablement, microcredit, and skill development to help them grow their livelihoods and communities.

In the coming few years, the foundation aims to empower double their impact and enable grassroots-level socio-economic change. The foundation currently works closely with individuals from tribal communities through various workshops and programmes focused on social and mental well-being, menstrual hygiene, financial literacy and healthcare programmes addressing nutritional requirements. Additionally, it is working with children's homes in Trichy for their mental health and socio-emotional well-being. To amplify their efforts, the team will collaborate with various industry experts, community workers, and mental health specialists.

The foundation’s interventions will primarily be concentrated in South India for the next one year.

The foundation's genesis was celebrated with a unique community event in Tharangambadi, which set a collaborative tone for the official launch. The pre-launch celebration was attended by marginalized men and women from rural Telangana, Karnataka, as well as Chidambaram and Trichy in Tamil Nadu. OFSI has impacted 200,000 lives in the past 5 years.

OFSI's roadmap includes expanding health education, increasing microcredit accessibility, and scaling up skill development programs over the next five years.

Articulating the company's journey, Anurag Mehta, CEO, Omega Healthcare, said, "Omega's foray into CSR was always a reflection of our core values. Today, OFSI stands as a testament to our dedication to not just serve but empower communities through strategic healthcare interventions and socio-economic initiatives."

Emphasizing the foundation's mission Sumithra Gomatam, Executive Chairperson of Omega Healthcare, said,"OFSI is our pledge to make a meaningful impact. By harnessing the potential of women as community catalysts, we're setting in motion a sustainable cycle of empowerment, enhanced by access to skills and credit."

Sunanda Rangarajan, CEO, OFSI, details the foundation's approach, “Our strategy transcends traditional CSR, focusing on the socio-economic and emotional well-being of our communities. By integrating healthcare services with educational opportunities, smart skilling, and micro-enterprise support, we're crafting a future where every individual has the chance to thrive.”

Kannan Sugantharaman, CFO, Omega Healthcare, underscored the vision of unity, stating, “Progress thrives on collective effort. OFSI is dedicated to advancing alongside the communities we serve, championing the cause of those who are often unheard, and empowering them to shape a more equitable future."