Abhi Shekhar Singh is a member of the corporate communications and marketing department at Mitsubishi Electric India Pvt. Ltd. in Gurugram, India. His position makes him responsible for managing the Mitsubishi Electric brand in the area, and his duties include corporate advertising, managing the company’s website, public relations, social media management and corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities.

CSR is designed to ensure that the company acts as a responsible citizen, and offers positive contributions to the community. Mr. Singh takes part in CSR events, but not only because it is his job, but because he wants to make a contribution to society and do something extra for the sake of others.

In December of 2018, the corporate communications and marketing department at Mitsubishi Electric India held events in the outskirts of Gurugram. The goals were to plant trees and provide water to rural schools, and members of the company, alongside group companies such as Mitsubishi Elevator India, volunteered their time to take part. One hundred trees were planted, and seven schools with a total of 857 students were given access to clean drinking water, making the project a grand success.

Putting together an event like that is no small feat. Mr. Singh acts as a show runner, travelling in advance to sites and schools targeted by the programme. Once the areas’ needs are understood, a proposal that matches the programme’s scope of support is drawn up. Upon approval, materials are procured, and it is time to organise the event itself. Group companies are contacted, and notices are sent requesting volunteers. Mr. Singh confirms the arrangements, and travels to the site to welcome management and other participants. He works alongside leadership and staff from various departments, digging holes, placing trees and carefully replacing the dirt. He supervises as ribbons are cut at new water filtration plants that will serve schools, and makes sure everything runs smoothly at the event.

People who take part are all motivated individuals. They want to dedicate their time to making life better, and talk to the children attending the schools to understand the problems they face more clearly. Volunteering also brings co-workers together, allowing them to see each other in a different light, and creating special bonds. Everything is done for the betterment of the community. Planting trees is good for the environment, and helps stabilise the land, which is especially important in the flood-prone Gurugram area. Similar annual events are also held in Bengaluru, Pune and other areas where Mitsubishi Electric offices and factories are located.

For Mr. Singh, however, the biggest joy is a simple one: making children smile. Interacting with them and seeing their cheerful faces is very fulfilling. He remembers one child in particular, a boy of four or five years old who had listened attentively to a speech by the managing director. The boy asked about Japan. Where is it? How far away? Mr. Singh responded by showing him a map of the world on his phone, and told him Japan is about 5,800 kilometres away. He was moved by the boy’s interest and curiosity. It is a clear illustration of how such activities can bring both communities and the world closer together.

Mitsubishi Electric India Pvt. Ltd.’s head office in Gurugram

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