NEW DELHI: The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd. (BTMU), the banking entity of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry’s Socio Economic Development Foundation (FICCI-SEDF), with the aim of collaborating in the building of sanitation facilities in girls’ schools of Andhra Pradesh and its adjoining areas.
Under this MoU, BTMU has pledged INR 105 million to fund the construction of sanitation facilities in about 200 girls’ schools in Andhra Pradesh under the Swachh Bharat-Swachh Vidyalaya campaign. Part of the donation will also be used to fund awareness programs to inculcate the importance of having proper and safe sanitation for school-going children, especially girls. FICCI-SEDF will be BTMU’s partner and administrator of this sanitation project.
Mr Taiju Hisai, Regional Executive of BTMU India said, “BTMU strongly believes that to ensure sustainable growth, we need to invest for the long-term. It is with this in mind that we decided to partner FICCI-SEDF in the Swachh Vidyalaya campaign as something as basic as proper and safe sanitation would make a vast difference to the lives and future of India’s next generation, especially the girls.”
“FICCI is pleased to partner with BTMU in their sanitation program in Andhra Pradesh. FICCI strongly believes that by providing basic sanitation facilities that offer good hygiene and privacy, more girls may be encouraged to stay in school and complete their studies. Good hygiene habits inculcated from young age will also help to improve the overall health of India’s youth. This will eventually lead to having a healthy and strong workforce”, said Dr A. Didar Singh, Secretary General, FICCI.
The sanitation project was launched today in the presence of Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Dr. Chandrababu Naiduand Japan’s Minister of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Mr. Yoichi Miyazawa.Studies have found that the lack of proper and safe sanitation facilities for girls is a major contributing factor to the high level of girls drop out, especially at secondary school level. It is with the aim of nurturing the next generation that BTMU is contributing towards the cause.
Under this project, BTMU plans to build bio-digester toilets where possible, as this would ensure that it can make a valuable, long-term contribution towards conserving the environment and improving waste management in the country.
As a member of the MUFG, BTMU has been working closely with various community partners in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore and Neemrana. BTMU adopted two priority themes for its CSR initiatives and activities, the first is global environmental issues such as global warming and biodiversity; the second is nurturing society’s next generation which addresses local or regional issues impacting society and its youth as a whole, including poverty and financial literacy.
Both BTMU and FICCI-SEDF are committed to Honorable Prime Minister’s call to the industry to contribute to the Swachh Bharat Initiative.The Swachh Bharat – Swachh Vidyalaya campaign reflects the Indian government’s resolve in providing toilets, with a separate facility for girls, in every school. BTMU is committed to build and maintain such essential facilities especially in girls’ schools of Andhra Pradesh and its adjoining areas.
