Support child education through CSR, speakers emphasise at CSR Dialogue: Rangpur

Participants in an online discussion suggested that CSR initiatives should work for advancing child education in remote and hard-to-reach areas to ensure basic education for every child. 

The event titled 'CSR Dialogue: Rangpur' was held on October 8, 2022. It was part of a joint initiative of The Daily Star and CSR Window known as "A Better Tomorrow CSR Summit and Awards". The annual nationwide programme aims to create dialogues for future development and sustainability solutions and recognise corporations for their innovative and world-class CSR initiatives, social projects and programmes implemented for sustainable impacts on society.

Dr Shazzat Rahat Hossain, Project Lead of Spreeha, discussed how rural people suffer from the lack of adequate health facilities during emergencies. He along with his team is working on a project named 'Sneho Mobile Health' to provide emergency health services to rural people. According to their model, rural people will be able to contact doctors through Community Health Workers (CHW), and the doctors will issue e-prescriptions. Currently, they are running the project in Gaibandha, Meherpur, and Satkhira. They have also developed a database of patients which helps them identify what kind of health services the rural people need most. Dr Shazzat sought support from CSR initiatives to upscale their project and provide support to a large number of people. 

K M Ali Samrat, Executive Director of Participatory Advancement Social Service (PASS), suggested that CSR initiatives should invest more in tree plantation projects. He identified two open areas in Rangpur – Nasnia Bill and Chikli Bill – where large-scale plantation projects can be undertaken. He also pointed out that there are remote areas in the Rangpur division where children lack proper access to education. He requested CSR initiatives to work in those areas. 

S M Nazmul Ahsan, AGM of  CSR at Epyllion Group, talked about his company's eye care project 'Noyon Tori' under which a vehicle equipped with state-of-the-art eye care services roams rural areas and provides free eye treatment to poor people. They also provide free prescription eyeglasses to patients. He also talked about Epyllion Group's Kheya Academy which provides education and skill development training to young people. 

Velayat Ali Ahsan, Divisional Leaf Manager of BAT Bangladesh, appreciated Spreeha's 'Sneho Mobile Health' project and suggested that it should be upscaled at the national level. He also talked about several CSR initiatives of BAT Bangladesh including Afforestation, Renewable Energy Project and Skill Development Training for Rural Women. 
 
Alhajj Mostafizur Rahman Mostafa, Honorable Mayor of Rangpur City Corporation, suggested that telemedicine services like 'Sneho Mobile Health" need to be taken to a large number of people through adequate financial support and campaign. He also requested CSR initiatives to invest in education, health and tree plantation projects in the Rangpur City Corporation area.

The online session was moderated by Ahsan Rony, Co-Founder of CSR Window.