Goodyear’s footprints in India are quite huge and the firm has regularly undertaken several steps to ensure that it contributes to the society as well. Now, in a recent development, the esteemed tyre manufacturer has collaborated with Plan India, a children’s development organisation, in order to support their Early Childhood Care Development Centres (ECCDs) initiative. The plan is likely to benefit a large number of children across the cities of New Delhi and Mumbai.
According to this project, children in these cities are going to get regular health check-ups and immunizations. In addition, they will be provided with appropriate nutrition according to their age through regular daily meals.
Rajeev Anand, Vice President and Managing Director at Goodyear India, spoke in depth about this initiative. “With growth of infrastructure and development activities in urban areas, there are large numbers of labourers moving to our major cities. In many cases, they come with their families and children from rural areas and reside in temporary housing near the construction sites where it can sometimes be difficult to access services in healthcare and education. We chose to partner with Plan India for this project as they have over 10 years of experience and an excellent record in early childhood care and development approaches for children living in and around construction areas in India,” he said.
The main motive of these ECCDs is to offer a safe and high quality environment to children and ensure that they get proper learning. Children of labourers at construction sites and other such areas are going to be the main target of this programme. In addition, parents of these children will be provided with counselling on issues like child feeding, immunization and hygiene.
Executive Director of Plan India, Bhagyashri Dengle, elucidated the main motive of the program. “Early childhood encompasses the period of development from pre-natal through the transition from home or ECCD centre into the early primary grades. It includes health, nutrition, education, social science, economics, child protection and social welfare. The ECCDs strives to ensure young children’s overall well-being during the early years. Plan aims to improve holistic care for the development of children between 0-6 years at home and in centers by strengthening the government systems and structures as well as building capacities of parents and communities.”
