Volkswagen India embarks on a new CSR Project; Starts operating Mobile Health Clinic in Khed taluka

Volkswagen Pune Plant has started operating a Mobile Health Clinic from today at Kahnewadi tarfe Chakan and Sangurdi to provide basic medical attention and medicines free of cost to the villagers. A specially modified Mobile Health Clinic with a qualified doctor, paramedic, nurse, dresser-cum-compounder and adequate medical supplies for basic treatments would cater to the combined population over 2,200 at the villages which currently do not have even basic medical facilities.

“Medical attention is one of the basic necessities of every individual. The residents of Kahnewadi tarfe Chakan and Sangurdi have to travel at least five kilometres to the nearest primary healthcare centre (PHC) for even minor health conditions. With our Mobile Health Clinic, we want to ensure that the villagers get the required basic medical attention close to their houses. Moreover, we will also provide them with the prescribed medicines at no cost”, said Mr. Peter Raussendorf, Executive Director – HR Admin, Volkswagen India Private Limited during the first visit of the Mobile Health Clinic at Kahnewadi tarfe Chakan village.

Volkswagen India is committed towards being socially responsible, especially towards the residents of its neighbouring villages. Being operational in Chakan, Volkswagen India has always focussed on supporting the nearby villages in Khed taluka. For the new Mobile Health Clinic, Volkswagen India has committed an investment of approximately INR 4,800,000 in the first year of its operation. This includes a brand new vehicle that has been modified for medical use, a dedicated team of doctor, paramedic, nurse and dresser-cum-compounder, the running cost for the project and the required medical supplies. The Mobile Health Clinic is fully-equipped with inspection bed and chairs for doctor and patient, cabinet for medical supplies, dressing table, wash basin, tube lights, fans, fridge, a GPS system, etc.

The Volkswagen India Mobile Health Clinic will visit each village every day for five days a week for three hours/day. The qualified medical attendants would conduct free check-ups for patients with conditions like cough, cold, or fever, and prescribe medicines if needed. The medical attention and medicines would be given free of cost to all the patients. The Mobile Health Clinic will also offer advice on nutrition, women’s health issues, and precautions to be taken during local disease outbreaks, among other topics, on a regular basis.

Mr. Himmat Kharade, Sub Divisional Officer, Khed Region, commented “Volkswagen India has taken the very impressive step of starting the Mobile Health Clinic to provide medical assistance to the villagers of Kahnewadi tarfe Chakan and Sangurdi. This will not only ensure that the villagers will get on-time attention but will also reduce the burden off their shoulders of traveling to distant villages and paying for it. I am also happy to note that this is Volkswagen India’s second major initiative in this year for helping communities in this region.”

Recently, Volkswagen India also initiated a project to build water bunds at drought-affected Naiphad village in Khed taluka, committing an investment of INR 51 lakh, to increase water reserves of the village. The village was identified as part of the Government of Maharashtra’s “Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan” programme to make villages in the State Drought free. Volkswagen India had done a similar water conservation project in 2013 at Gulani, Khed which improved the water situation in the village. Additionally, Volkswagen India has undertaken other CSR activities in the past such as H1N1 vaccination to over 1500 school children, supporting Inter-Mission Industrial Development Community College in Chakan with sponsorship, donating an ambulance to the Red Cross, building an additional block at Zilla Parishad School in Nighoje and a donating a bus to the Inter Mission Care and Rehabilitation Society in Paud.

About Volkswagen Group India
With its headquarters in Pune, Maharashtra, the Volkswagen Group is represented by five passenger car brands in India: Audi, Lamborghini, Porsche, ŠKODA, and Volkswagen. The Volkswagen Group has been present in India for the last 14 years and began its India journey with the entry of the ŠKODA brand in 2001. The Audi brand and Volkswagen brand entered India in 2007, while Porsche brand and Lamborghini brand followed in 2012. Each brand has its own character and operates as an independent entity in the market. Volkswagen Group India has over 25 models in India and over 240 dealerships and is operating through two plants – Pune and Aurangabad. The Pune Plant has a manufacturing capacity of 130,000 cars per year (in current two-shift system) and is currently manufacturing Volkswagen Polo and Vento and ŠKODA Rapid. The Aurangabad Plant caters to various premium and luxury models of Audi, ŠKODA and Volkswagen sold in India and has an annual capacity of approximately 89,000. Volkswagen Group India is a part of Volkswagen AG, which is globally represented by 12 brands – Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Ducati, Lamborghini, Porsche, Scania, SEAT, ŠKODA, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge), MAN and Volkswagen Passenger Cars.