NetApp Signs MoU With Habitat for Humanity to Build Sanitation and Hygiene Awareness
BANGALORE, June 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --
Initiative Dovetails Into the Government's Swachh Bharat Campaign
NetApp (NASDAQ: NTAP) today announced that it has signed a MoU with the Habitat For Humanity to construct new toilets for local schools and household units in and around Bangalore. Supporting the Indian Government's Swachh Bharat mission, this program will also involve educating local communities about necessary sanitation and hygiene practices.
With nearly half of India's population defecating in the open according to UNICEF, India reports the highest number of deaths due to diarrhoea among children under-five in the world. The learning abilities of school-age children are impacted by the effects of diarrhoea and worm infection. Women and girls who do not have access to toilets are especially vulnerable.
"NetApp believes in driving positive change in society through community service," said Deepak Visweswaraiah, Vice President and Managing Director, NetApp India. "Open defecation is a serious issue that not only affects the health of individual citizens, but also impacts dignity of individuals. Building toilets in schools with the help of Habitat for Humanity will go a long way towards safeguarding the health of generations of Indians. By providing the right infrastructure and the right education to communities, we support the Indian Government's goal towards a cleaner, safer India."
"Sanitation and hygiene are necessities for a society to succeed and thrive," said Mr. Rajan Samuel, Managing Director, Habitat for Humanity India. "Our partnership with NetApp helps local communities, not only by building the facilities that are fundamental, but also by educating them about health practices to prevent the outbreak of diseases. Constructing the proper amenities while creating the necessary awareness is a gift for generations to come."
Nationwide celebrity-led media campaigns are popularizing the need for toilets in every home. NetApp drives awareness at the grassroots level about the maintenance and upkeep of these facilities among children - and through them, their families. Through NetApp's Volunteer Time Off (VTO) program, employees educate local communities about sanitation and hygiene practices for disease prevention. The company's employees also actively engage with Habitat for Humanity to construct the toilet units for local schools. This program is in line with NetApp's goal of contributing to a sustainable environment and bettering the community in which it operates.
Neeladri Reddy, QA Engineer at NetApp said, "We get five paid days a year to work for our community as part of company policy. It is deeply satisfying to think that we can give back to our society in any small way, and NetApp makes it possible."
NetApp's focus on 'Swachh Bharat' is part of its agenda to support the Indian government's community development initiatives.
For more information regarding NetApp's support of these initiatives, please refer to the following:
-From The Delta To The Valley: A Weekend with India's Prime Minister
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Aanandita Bhatnagar - NetApp
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