BANGALORE, India, Oct. 22, 2009 - Cisco today announced a contribution worth US $10 million in cash, services, solutions and equipment over the next two years to support rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in Karnataka, which has been affected by one of the most devastating floods in India's history. The announcement was made during a meeting today between Dr. B.S. Yeddyurappa, Karnataka's chief minister, and Wim Elfrink, chief globalisation officer and executive vice president, Cisco Services.
"We are very pleased with the commitment shown by Cisco to work with the state government in our Asare program – a private-government partnership aimed at relief and permanent rehabilitation efforts in the flood-hit regions of Karnataka. As the largest commitment of a multinational to date, Cisco's expertise and resources will be a significant help to the ongoing recovery and reconstruction," said Shri B. S Yeddyurappa, chief minister of Karnataka.
"The gesture and response from Cisco to the Karnataka government's request for assistance at this critical time is a fine example of corporate citizenship. I thank Cisco for stepping up and making this significant commitment to the people of Karnataka," said Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar, a member of Parliament and the coordinator of the Asare Programme – the Karnataka government's fundraising for rehabilitation efforts.
"Technology can play an important enabling role in our rehabilitation efforts and we look forward to working with a world technology leader like Cisco to demonstrate that Information Technology can have a transformative impact on the lives of people in rural Karnataka," said Shri Katta Subramanya Naidu, Minister of Information and Biotechnology, Karnataka.
"After witnessing the terrible destruction and speaking with those who have lost so much, we feel an urgency to help in the rehabilitation and rebuilding efforts. As a company that believes strongly in social investments, we hope to help the affected communities not only rebuild – but build a sustainable and stronger future," said Wim Elfrink, chief globalisation officer and executive vice president, Cisco Services. "We will visit the affected areas to assess how we can best work with citizens, businesses, and government leaders to aid in the rehabilitation efforts."
Cisco will collaborate with government agencies and non-government organisation leaders to develop 21st-century sustainable education and health care models, enabled by collaborative networked information technology and communications. One focus of Cisco's efforts is using the power of the network to establish connections between communities to facilitate a more effective delivery of services to citizens and provide a platform for economic revitalisation.
Cisco's US $10M contribution to flood relief in India builds upon its commitment to corporate social responsibility and response to other humanitarian disasters including the earthquake in Sichuan, China, in 2008, Hurricane Katrina in the United States in 2005, and the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004.
