Kolkata, July 14 (IANS) India’s premier defence shipbuilder, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd, was awarded the SKOCH Award for its Project Akansha. Project Akansha is a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative aimed at improving the lives of children and adolescents from vulnerable communities in Kolkata.

The award was presented at the 108th SKOCH Summit held in New Delhi. Project Akansha, implemented by Child Rights and You (CRY) with support from GRSE, focuses on the holistic development of children and adolescents in the Munshiganj and Watgunj-Hastings areas of Kolkata.

The aim of the project is to create a safe and enabling environment for children, while enhancing their access to education and opportunities for personal growth. This is being done through supplementary education, life-skills training, self-defence sessions, nutritional support and community engagement.

The project has made a significant impact in the intervention area by improving school enrolment and retention, strengthening life skills and fostering greater community participation in child protection initiatives.

“It has also helped create trusted learning spaces and encouraged active involvement of mothers and local stakeholders in safeguarding children’s rights,” an official said.

GRSE delivered India’s first indigenous warship – INS Ajay – to the Navy in 1961, barely a year after becoming a defence public sector undertaking. Since then, it has delivered 117 more warships to the Navy, Coast Guard and Friendly Foreign Nations. This is the highest number of warships delivered by any Indian shipyard. Two warships built by it have also been exported to Mauritius and the Seychelles.

On June 21, Prime Minister Narendra Modi commissioned three warships built by GRSE into the Navy. These included the advanced stealth frigate INS Dunagiri, survey vessel large INS Sanshodhak and anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft INS Agray.

At the moment, the shipyard is building nine warships, including the advanced stealth frigate Vindhyagiri, four Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels and four anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft. Apart from these, GRSE is also building 30 commercial platforms, including 12 specialised multi-purpose vessels for a German company.

The shipyard is also building four research vessels for NPOL, NCPOR and the Geological Survey of India.

GRSE also holds the largest market share in the country for modular steel bridges that are used by the Army, Border Roads Organisation, and several government agencies to connect difficult and strategic areas. The shipyard is also building 30 mm naval surface guns (NSGs) that are fitted on warships as a close-range weapons system.

“While displaying excellence in shipbuilding and engineering, GRSE reaffirms its commitment to creating sustainable social impact through meaningful CSR initiatives that create opportunities for a brighter future by promoting education, empowerment and holistic community development,” the official added.

–IANS

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