For students planning to study at the Indian Institutes of Technology, winning Panasonic’s Ratti Chattr Scholarship program could mean more than just getting financial support. The scholarship comes with a unique mentorship program that aims to equip winners with soft skills that could help them both academically and professionally. Ratti Chattr is merit-cum-need based scholarship which means that the screening process for the scholarship focuses on a student’s academic qualification, financial need, and others factors that help Panasonic to identify which candidates are best suited for the program.
In this interview with TheCSRUniverse, Ms Ritu Ghosh, Head of Corporate Affairs and CSR at Panasonic, speaks about how the scholarship program has been mentoring IIT students, especially those from Tier 2 and 3 cities, to create successful professional careers. Ms Ghosh also discusses the various CSR initiatives of Panasonic and the company’s plans towards creating a sustainable technological ecosystem.
Read the excerpts from the interview below:
Q: Ratti Chattr Scholarship Program is in its 8th edition now. How many students have been helped with this scholarship over the years?
A: The Ratti Chattr Scholarship Program, which is currently in its 8th edition, has provided financial assistance to numerous undergraduate students over the past 8 years. In the program's second phase, 240 students from 23 IITs across the country were awarded scholarships. The program's primary objective is to identify and empower ‘young future leaders' by providing them with the resources necessary to pursue higher education at their respective IITs.
Q: Why is this scholarship offered only to IIT students?
A: Panasonic is known for its technological legacy and has been continuously innovating with the vision to ‘Create Today, Enrich Tomorrow’. As part of its contribution to society, Panasonic has taken significant strides to empower young people by providing access to technology and opportunities for growth. In line with this commitment, Panasonic recognised that many students aspiring to attend esteemed institutions such as the IITs faced financial and communication barriers, particularly those hailing from Tier II and Tier III cities.
To address these issues, Panasonic initiated a program that would provide both financial assistance and guidance to these deserving students. The program is aimed to boost their confidence and provide them with financial support. Panasonic believes that a little handholding will go a long way to help them be confident and understand that there are no barriers to achieving their goals regardless of their background or circumstance. By extending approachability to any premier institute, Panasonic aims to empower young talent and promote equal access to opportunities for all.
Q: Are there any plans to expand the scholarship to institutions beyond the IITs?
A: The real outcome of any social engagement lies in the maximum impact made at the ground level for the intended beneficiary. There is a lot that can be done with the current set of students whom we are currently engaging with. For example, this year we organised webinars with the previous batch of scholarship winners to understand and develop their interpersonal skills that will help them with better job opportunities.
Q: How much is the total scholarship that these students will be getting during their 4-year engineering programme?
A: We have committed INR 51 lakh annually towards this program, which ensures that deserving students have access to the financial resources necessary to pursue their academic aspirations. We are confident that this investment will enable students to achieve their full potential and succeed in their chosen fields.
Q: Besides offering the scholarship amount, does Panasonic help the winners develop other soft skills?
A: We believe in the holistic development of scholarship recipients, particularly those from Tier II and Tier III cities who may face challenges in communicating effectively. To address these concerns, we offer guidance and mentorship to scholarship recipients, ensuring that they are equipped with the soft skills necessary to succeed both academically and professionally.
Q: What are the criteria that determine winners of the Ratti Chattr Scholarship Program? Is it just limited to merit?
A: We take a thorough approach to our scholarship selection process. Our initial screening criteria include evaluating the candidate's educational qualifications and annual income, provided they have filled out their application forms completely.
Candidates who meet these initial requirements and have scored above 75% on our online test are then invited to participate in an interview round. During this stage, we try to get to know each candidate on a more personal level to assess their suitability for the program, which is based on a range of factors.
Our final selection is not based solely on academic merit but takes into consideration any gaps or challenges that the student may be facing. Our goal is to identify candidates who have the potential to benefit most from our scholarship program and to support them in achieving their full potential.
Q: The International Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Forum estimates that over 5.3 billion mobile phones may have been thrown out in 2022. How do you look at this problem of e-waste and how is Panasonic, as a technology company, addressing the challenging problem of e-waste?
A: As a responsible brand and technology company we comply with all the applicable ‘Extended Producer Responsibility' norms and compliances. In addition to our compliance efforts, we also believe in taking a proactive approach to environmental sustainability. As a result, we launched the Harit Umang- Joy of Green program a few years back, which is focused on promoting awareness and understanding of key issues related to sustainability, including responsible disposal and safe, scientific recycling. This program has been in operation for the past 3 years and has been a resounding success in nurturing a new generation of “green ambassadors” who are passionate about creating positive changes in their communities and beyond.
Q: We all have been talking about net zero targets. The Indian government has committed to being a net-zero country by the year 2070. What are your company’s net-zero targets? What key activities are you doing to achieve that target?
A: As part of our ongoing commitment to sustainability, we have launched the Green Impact Initiative, which is focused on reducing Panasonic’s carbon footprint and promoting a more environmentally responsible approach to business operations.
Our goal is to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions across all of our group operating companies by 2030 and to contribute to a total reduction of more than 300 million tons in CO2 emissions by 2050.
Q: What are the other key areas of your CSR activities? Are there any new focus areas in the coming 2-3 years?
A: Panasonic has been actively involved with several initiatives related to skill development, healthcare, and environment and sustainability. Here are some of them:
- Panasonic Swabhimaan VTC: A Panasonic skill training centre runs in Gharaunda, Haryana and provides vocational training to rural youth to help them become self-reliant and self-employed.
- Panasonic Health Aarogya: Panasonic Aarogya involves mobile healthcare facilities in Jhajjar and Gharaunda, Haryana.
- Pratibha Puraskar Felicitation Program: This program recognises young talents in education and sports and felicitates them to motivate them as well as other students.
- Panasonic Harit Umang Program- ‘Joy of Green’ – Harit Umang program is a reflection of Panasonic’s mission to maintain and nurture the environment by developing sustainable practices and imparting green knowledge through active engagements with schools and communities.
