ICICI Bank 2011 Annual Report Download - page 46

Promoting Inclusive Growth
1. Background
For over five decades, the ICICI Group has partnered India in its economic growth and development. Promoting
inclusive growth has been a priority area for the Group from both a social and business perspective. We strive
to make a difference to our customers, to the society and to the nation’s development directly through our
products and services, as well as through our development initiatives and community outreach.
2. ICICI Foundation for Inclusive Growth
ICICI Foundation for Inclusive Growth (ICICI Foundation) was founded by the ICICI Group in early 2008 to carry
forward and build upon its legacy of promoting inclusive growth. ICICI Foundation works with government
authorities and specialised grassroots organisations to support developmental work in identified focus areas. It
is committed to investing in long-term efforts to support inclusive growth through effective interventions. The
objective of the Foundation is articulated in its Mission Statement:
“To empower the poor to participate in and benefit from the Indian growth process through integrated action
in the fields of primary health, elementary education, financial inclusion and sustainable livelihood. This will be
achieved through active collaboration with the government and independent organisations.”
Areas of focus:
a) Primary health: ICICI Foundation works to strengthen public health delivery systems to improve the
health of mothers and children in the poorest communities across India in the states of Bihar, Jharkhand,
Chattisgarh, Odisha and Maharashtra. It strives to develop solutions to enable the government health
systems to become more effective. Some of the key interventions in the field of primary health are:
i. District Health Action Plans: In Bihar, ICICI Foundation has worked with Public Health Resource
Network and the National Health Systems Resource Centre to support preparation of District Health
Action Plans for the entire state for the third consecutive year. These plans enable proper assessment
of the healthcare required and the available resources so that the central government funding can be
allocated on an informed basis and focussed actions can be undertaken.
ii. Nutrition Security Programme: This initiative aims to improve nutrition of children aged between six
months and three years by enlisting and training the Mitanin (community health workers) to change
dietary practices and attitudes in communities. The programme has been undertaken in partnership
with the Chhattisgarh State Health Resource Centre in 23 blocks across 11 districts in Chhattisgarh. 9,000
Mitanins were trained in nutrition related issues. The intervention has resulted in improved enrolments
in the anganwadis for accessing healthcare and increase in the distribution of food supplements. The
household feeding practices have also improved through addition of locally available nurtritious food
to the diet.
iii. Maternal Nutrition Project: ICICI Foundation supports the Mumbai Maternal Nutrition Project, a
randomised controlled trial on mother and child health. The project is designed to empower women to
independently improve their, as well as, their children’s nutrition. The project succeeded in achieving
its target of enrolling more than a 1,000 pregnant women and documenting nearly 700 births. The
study tests the impact of enhancing micronutrient quality in women’s diets from before conception to
delivery, by examining women’s health, foetal growth and their children’s development.
iv. State Village Health Committee and Sahiyya Resource Centre: Under the National Rural Health
Mission (NRHM), Sahiyyas (community health workers) play a key role in linking their communities
with public health systems and act as agents for community mobilisation. The Jharkhand State Village
Health Committee and Sahiyya Resource Centre was created through an innovative partnership with
the Jharkhand state government, central government institutions and civil society organisations. It
facilitates the implementation of the Sahiyya and Village Health Committee programmes under the
NRHM. The centre has till date trained nearly 41,000 Sahiyyas.
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