Vodafone India, one of India’s leading telecommunications service providers, today announced the release of ‘Footprints II’, the second edition of its Sustainability Report by Shri Kapil Sibal, Hon’ble Union Minister of Communications & IT, Government of India. Marten Pieters, MD & CEO, Vodafone India, presented the first copy of the report to the Hon’ble Minister reinforcing sustainability as the key cornerstone of Vodafone’s business strategy and commitment to India.
Releasing the report, Shri Kapil Sibal, Hon’ble Union Minister of Communications & IT, said, “Telecom sector is an important catalyst for societal transformation and nation building. Time has come that the notion of ‘shared value’ becomes the mainstream thinking of the corporate sector and companies take the lead in connecting business success with social development. I am delighted that Vodafone India has taken the lead towards creating a sustainable future. Such initiatives reinforce their commitment to India, which I am sure will further strengthen going forward.”
Elaborating on Vodafone India’s strategy, Marten Pieters, Managing Director & CEO, Vodafone India, said, “At Vodafone, sustainability is a journey and not an objective. We believe what is good for society is also good for business. I am happy to present ‘Footprints II’, our second Sustainability Report, to share the progress that we made in this endeavor across its various dimensions. We would like to be seen as the most respected and successful telecommunications company in India making meaningful contributions to the socio-economic development of the country.”
‘Footprints II’ is the second volume of the sustainability report which encapsulates the various initiatives undertaken by Vodafone India. The report chronicles Vodafone India’s initiatives in five categories- Pursuits, People, Products, Processes and Partnerships, with specific initiatives in each area highlighted.
Highlights of ‘Footprints II’
- Pursuits – Our pursuits reflect the extent to which sustainable development practices have been embedded in the way we do things. From waste management, to green buildings, from efficient data centres to green networks, we are taking sustainability to the next level through our initiatives.
Key initiatives -ReSolve, Fast Forward, Green Building and Networks
- People – (People are at the center of Vodafone’s sustainability strategy. We invest in their training and development and strive to build a safe and conducive work environment for them. We see our people as ambassadors of our values, and empower them to make a difference.
Key initiatives– Health Safety and Wellbeing, Streamlining HR function, Talent Management
- Products – We constantly endeavor to utilise our technology and expertise to develop products that can contribute to the businesses becoming more sustainable as well as to the development of the society. Whether it is smart metering or asset tracking for the enterprises or education, banking and rural entrepreneurship or digital inclusion of individuals, we strive to make our products a means of empowerment.
Key initiatives – M2M Solutions, m-Education (Adult learning programme), m-Health (e-Mamta)
- Processes – Whether it is empowering our talent pool, collaborating to enhance our supply chain, or protecting customers from breach of security, we firmly believe that institutionalising effective processes and implementing them is essential to sustain any positive measure. In this section, we talk about processes that ensure smooth running of our operations, thereby making a difference to the value generated for our internal and external stakeholders.
Key initiatives – Reducing e-Waste footprint, Fraud Risk and Security, Legal and Regulatory Compliance, Efficient Supply Chain
- Partnerships –Collaborating with our vendors and suppliers to design feasible, cost effective solutions, to associating with the non-governmental associations, we always believe in fostering sustainable partnerships. This stems from our belief that ‘what one can do well, two can do better’.
Key initiatives – World of Difference, Railway helpline
NOTE: With the view of driving inclusion strongly into the corporate ecosystem, this year Footprints II is also being made available in the DAISY (Digital Accessible Information System) format. DAISY is a technical standard for digital audio books, periodicals and computerized text. Our report is a complete audio substitute for print material and is specifically designed for use by people with “print disabilities,” including blindness, impaired vision, and dyslexia. Through this format visually impaired users can search, place bookmarks, precisely navigate line by line, and regulate the speaking speed without distortion.
