Mahindra & Mahindra : Institute for Sustainable Communities launches EHS+ Center

Mahindra supports the venture for the first 4 years

• Located in Pune, the EHS+ Center will provide affordable, high-quality training on industrial energy efficiency, carbon management, resource efficiency and improving health and safety conditions for workers, reducing adverse environmental impacts on surrounding communities

• With this initiative, Mahindra & Mahindra joins USAID, The Walt Disney Company, GE Foundation and MacArthur Foundation as donors in a public-private partnership with ISC and the Symbiosis Institute of International Business

Pune, August 26, 2016: The Institute for Sustainable Communities today launched the EHS+ Center - an India owned environment, health and safety training centre, in partnership with Symbiosis Institute of International Business, a constituent unit of the prestigious Symbiosis International University (SIU), with support from Mahindra & Mahindra, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Walt Disney Co., General Electric Foundation and MacArthur Foundation. Located in Pune, the EHS+ Center will provide affordable, high-quality training to factory managers on industrial energy efficiency, carbon management, resource efficiency and improving health and safety conditions for workers, reducing adverse environmental impacts on surrounding communities.

Those present at the launch ceremony included Hemant Sikka - Chief Purchase Officer, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, Vijay Kalra - Chief of Manufacturing Operations, Automotive Division, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, Jonathan Addleton - USAID Mission Director, Dr.S.B. Mujumdar, Founder and President -Symbiosis Society & Chancellor -SIU, Rajani Gupte, Vice Chancellor - SIU, Moutushi Sengupta, Country Director of MacArthur Foundation, India and George Hamilton - ISC President.

With this initiative, Mahindra & Mahindra joins USAID, The Walt Disney Company, GE Foundation and MacArthur Foundation as donors in a public-private partnership with ISC and the Symbiosis Institute of International Business, a constituent unit of the prestigious Symbiosis International University (SIU). Mahindra & Mahindra is involved in helping India's small and medium enterprises get the skills they need to be leaders in sustainable manufacturing.

Speaking at the occasion, Hemant Sikka - Chief Purchase Officer, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, said, 'Sustainability is an integral aspect of our philosophy and we strongly believe that conducting business responsibly and consciously is crucial to the well being of our employees, stakeholders and the community at large. Our partnership with the Institute of Sustainable communities is a commitment on the same front, where we have taken the responsibility to not only fund the functioning of the center for the first 4 years but to go beyond by providing any necessary expertise. We are confident that the center will play a pivotal role in enhancing sustainability practices in manufacturing organisations, and we at Mahindra are proud to be associated with them.'

ISC President George Hamilton mentioned, 'The EHS+ Center here in Pune is an incredible example of partnership, teamwork, and commitment from our staff here in India, from our colleagues at Symbiosis Institute for International Business, and our funding partners GE, the Walt Disney Company, USAID, Mahindra & Mahindra and MacArthur Foundation. To date, the Center team has worked with over 1,000 trainees from 30 factories - we know that you will continue to build on this amazing success.'

The launch theme for the event was 'Integrating Sustainability in Supply-chain.' The launch ceremony highlighted the challenges and best practices in integrating sustainability across supply chains in India, and the Center's unique approach to enhance the capacity of Indian industries to improve performance in sustainable manufacturing. The ceremony also served as an opportunity to recognize the government, corporate, and university partners that are joining forces to make the EHS+ center possible.

The EHS+ Center is located within Symbiosis Institute of International Business. SIIB is an academic partner with ISC and committed to engage in activities to promote the EHS program to the industries in and around Pune, Maharashtra. The EHS+ Center will provide affordable, world class trainings to factory managers on industrial energy efficiency, carbon management, resource efficiency and improving health and safety conditions for workers, reducing adverse environmental impacts on surrounding communities. In due course, the center will train over 350-500 factory managers annually.

The courses taught at the India EHS+ Center are developed by local experts. They include courses adapted from the successful training materials developed by ISC's EHS+ Network, as well as custom courses developed in partnership with local companies and global brands. All courses are tailored to meet the needs of Indian factories and industries. This EHS+ Center is the fourth developed by the Institute for Sustainable Communities, following the successful launch of two Centers in China, and one in Bangladesh. The Centers together make up the EHS+ Network, a multi-country partnership designed to support advancement in the EHS profession.

About Mahindra

The Mahindra Group focuses on enabling people to rise through solutions that power mobility, drive rural prosperity, enhance urban lifestyles and increase business efficiency.

A USD 17.8 billion multinational group based in Mumbai, India, Mahindra provides employment opportunities to over 200,000 people in over 100 countries. Mahindra operates in the key industries that drive economic growth, enjoying a leadership position in tractors, utility vehicles, information technology, financial services and vacation ownership. In addition, Mahindra enjoys a strong presence in the agribusiness, aerospace, components, consulting services, defence, energy, industrial equipment, logistics, real estate, retail, steel, commercial vehicles and two wheeler industries.

In 2015, Mahindra & Mahindra was recognized as the Best Company for CSR in India in a study by the Economic Times. In 2014, Mahindra featured on the Forbes Global 2000, a comprehensive listing of the world's largest, most powerful public companies, as measured by revenue, profit, assets and market value. The Mahindra Group also received the Financial Times 'Boldness in Business' Award in the 'Emerging Markets' category in 2013.

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contact information: Mohan Nair
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Automotive & Farm Equipment Sectors
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