Hyundai Motor India presented accessibility recommendations to the government and launched 'Samarth Hero Awards' to showcase efforts in empowering people with disabilities, celebrating a year of inclusive initiatives and partnerships.
17 Oct 2024 | 1831 Views | By Autocar Professional Bureau
Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) marked the completion of the first year of its initiative, ‘Samarth by Hyundai’, which focuses on supporting people with disabilities in India. This initiative aligns with Hyundai Motor Company’s global vision of “Progress for Humanity” and aims to raise awareness and encourage inclusivity for people ...
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Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) marked the completion of the first year of its initiative, ‘Samarth by Hyundai’, which focuses on supporting people with disabilities in India. This initiative aligns with Hyundai Motor Company’s global vision of “Progress for Humanity” and aims to raise awareness and encourage inclusivity for people with disabilities. Launched in 2023, 'Samarth by Hyundai' has undertaken several activities over the past year to build awareness, provide support, and create opportunities for people with disabilities.
At the event marking this milestone, HMIL presented a “Charter of Recommendations for Enhancing Accessibility and Inclusivity” to the Government of India, advocating for improvements in policies and infrastructure. The company also announced the ‘Samarth Hero Awards’, aimed at recognising individuals and organisations contributing to the empowerment of people with disabilities.
The event was attended by several government dignitaries, including Shri Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of Sports; Dr. Virendra Kumar, Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment; and Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. Key representatives from HMIL, including Managing Director Mr. Unsoo Kim, along with other officials, partners, and stakeholders, participated in the event to celebrate the initiative's achievements.
In his address, Mr. Unsoo Kim highlighted HMIL’s efforts toward inclusivity and expressed the company’s commitment to continuing its work to create opportunities for people with disabilities in India.
The 'Samarth by Hyundai' initiative has made progress in various areas over the past year. The company launched a 360-degree media campaign featuring Shah Rukh Khan, aimed at spreading awareness and celebrating inclusivity. The campaign reached over 300 million people across India and highlighted the challenges faced by people with disabilities.
HMIL has also worked to improve accessibility at its dealerships by ensuring wheelchair access at most locations. The company introduced TurnPlus, a swivel seat mechanism for passenger vehicles, designed to help individuals with disabilities enter and exit vehicles with greater ease. Additionally, knowledge sessions were conducted for HMIL employees to promote a more inclusive work environment.
The Hyundai Motor India Foundation (HMIF), the philanthropic arm of HMIL, partnered with GoSports Foundation and Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled to provide support to people with disabilities. Among its initiatives, HMIF supported a five-match international blind cricket series, where the Indian Men’s Blind Cricket Team competed against Sri Lanka. HMIL also committed to supporting the training of 50 blind cricketers each year for the next two years and plans to host more international blind cricket matches.
The 'Samarth Para-Sports Programme' was launched in collaboration with GoSports Foundation, providing financial aid, sports science guidance, assistive devices, and mentorship to 20 para-athletes. Seven of these athletes participated in the Paralympics, with two winning medals. HMIL plans to extend its support for para-sports in the coming year.
HMIL also hosted the Samarth Assistive Devices Conclave, which focused on raising awareness about assistive technology. The event featured discussions on inclusivity, assistive technologies, and AI in para-sports. HMIF provided 72 assistive devices during the event, with plans to distribute 228 devices in 2024. Over the course of three years, HMIF aims to deliver a total of 684 assistive devices.
In its school engagement program, HMIL, in collaboration with NDTV, reached over 50,000 students across 120 schools to raise awareness about inclusivity. Additionally, a corporate visitor wall was created to support Indian para-athletes, gathering 25,000 signatures in support of these athletes. To date, 487,000 individuals have taken the #PledgeForInclusivity, supporting the 'Samarth by Hyundai' initiative.
Looking ahead, HMIL plans to continue its efforts in promoting inclusivity through its support of para-athletes, blind cricket, and assistive devices. The company will also focus on technology and infrastructure in collaboration with NGOs, media, and the government to further promote inclusivity for people with disabilities.