As part of Dubai Maritime Week, the annual Seatrade Maritime Awards was hosted in Dubai on Monday 27 October 2014, wherein individuals, organizations and companies from across the Middle East, Africa and the Indian subcontinent maritime and shipping industry were honored. Reformatted for 2014 with new categories and a new judging panel and format, the Seatrade Maritime Awards winners were chosen by an independent panel of judges based on a set of fair and transparent criteria. Widely recognized as the region's premier maritime awards, it attracted 14 entrants to the CSR category. This year’s winner of the 2014 Seatrade Maritime Awards for the category Corporate Social Responsibility was awarded to Krishnapatnam Port Company Limited.
Krishnapatnam Port is just in its seventh year of operations but its growing rapidly. Along with it, the port has created a socio-economic atmosphere that has immensely benefitted the surrounding inhabitants. The Krishnapatnam Port's Leadership Team, based on an unequivocal commitment to human values, believes in sustainable development and maintaining harmony with the communities living around the Port. As part of broad CSR framework, the Port has embarked on a series of human development initiatives specifically creating novel opportunities for empowerment and enterprise building. Currently, the Port invests its resources into Education; Skill Promotion and Job Development; Health, Safety and Environment; Community and Local Economy Development and Employee Development. All the activities are executed through its exclusive partnership with CVR Foundation.
The port started its CSR endeavor by building 500 houses with all infrastructural amenities as a part of its Rehabilitation & Resettlement program for the nearby villages. It then created Community & Local Economy Development programs that have helped in empowering the local community to grow along with the port. Some of the CSR programs currently run by the foundation include Scholarship Programs for needy students, CVR English Medium School, Krishnapatnam Security Academy, Krishnapatnam Academy of Professional Studies, Krishnapatnam Driver’s Training Academy, Navyatha Training cum Production Centre that is focused towards enabling and equipping women to become independent, CVR Medical Centre, Community Reach-out Clinics, Reconstructing History, Faith & Religious Places of Worships and Enterprise Development opportunities.
The purpose of the Foundation and its activities is to have meaningful contribution in creating credible solutions to poverty and inequality in the community. Just like the Port’s business, our CSR activities are designed for long-term community benefits and to foster sustainable growth. Our company's social responsibility arises from the fact that a business enterprise derives several benefits from society, which must, therefore, require the enterprise to provide returns to society as well. A business cannot succeed in a society which fails. It is equally important to ensure that society does not suffer from disparities of income and provision of basic services like health care, education and literacy. The progress and welfare of society is not merely the responsibility of governments alone. In an effective sense it involves appropriate actions by all stakeholders, especially business leaders such as us. We feel that unless the needs of society, both present and future, are served, a sustainable development is not possible.