CEAT’s road safety program extended to 85 schools

Saturday, 9 November 2013 07:20 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Efforts by Sri Lanka’s leading tyre manufacturer CEAT Kelani Holdings to inculcate respect for road rules on a national scale via workshops in schools around the country approached a milestone with the company completing its 85th program in October this year. The program which engages students, parents, and transport providers – principally school van drivers is coupled with donations of traffic management kits comprising of traffic cones, safety jackets, traffic signs and other aids to the traffic squads in each of the schools. Titled ‘Maga Yana Maga’ these workshops include presentations by a senior retired police officers on road safety rules, pedestrian safety and road etiquette, supported by a moral-centered skit enacted by a cast of actors. Students who participate take an oath to

uphold road rules and etiquette in their daily lives. A total of over 18,000 students have benefitted to date from the series of programs conducted by the company as part of its ‘CEAT Cares’ portfolio of corporate social responsibility initiatives. The last five schools at which CEAT Kelani conducted these road safety programs and donations of equipment were Royal College- Colombo, Adalachchenai Central College- Akkaraipattu, Meera Girls’ College- Kattankudy, Welagedara Central College- Kurunegala and Maliyadeva College- Kurunegala. “We adopted road safety as a major cause for corporate support in 2009,” CEAT Kelani Managing Director Raman Rajagopalan said. “Since then our team has travelled the length and breadth of Sri Lanka, advocating knowledge and respect for road rules as a means of reducing the alarming rise in road accidents in the country.” “As the manufacturer of a product that is germane to the safety or motorists and pedestrians, CEAT Kelani believes strongly in the importance of this program, in which it has invested substantial funds, effort and time,” he added.

After each educational program, the school concerned is encouraged to conduct road and pedestrian safety awareness programs for students with activities such as competitions and exhibitions. The schools that have generated significant impact through these efforts are recognised and rewarded by CEAT Kelani Holdings. CEAT Cares Under the umbrella of ‘CEAT Cares’ the company has identified three beneficiary segments – CSR initiatives encompassing the schools road safety programs and ‘Shaksham’ personal development programs for youth, community development initiatives focused on needs of the areas in the vicinity of the company’s manufacturing plants, and environment sustainability through waste management and recycling of resources. The ‘Shaksham’ (capable) program is one the focal projects of the company’s CSR program. It is a series of training workshops designed to empower young people on the threshold of employment through training on personal grooming and building self-confidence. The company has to-date conducted 13 ‘Shaksham’ programs, benefitting more than 500 young Sri Lankans. A global tyre brand present in 110 countries and now headquartered in India, CEAT is an acronym that stands for Cavi Electrici Affini Torino, or Electrical Cables and Allied Products of Turin. A National Business Excellence Award winner in 2010, 2011, and 2012 and a National Quality Award winner in the ‘Manufacturing – Large’ category in 2013, CEAT - Kelani Holdings is a successful Indo-Sri Lanka joint venture between the RPG Group of India and Kelani Tyre – Sri Lanka. The company operates three manufacturing units manufacturing truck, light truck, radial, motorcycle, three-wheeler and agricultural tyres and employs a workforce of 1,000 people.