CISCO pledges USD 10 mln for flood relief in Karnataka

Karnataka government and CISCO today inked a MOU to launch a project called  "aasare" (Support) under which CISCO would build 4,000 houses, two schools and a hospital in Raichur district, one of the worst affected.
"With this generous gesture, CISCO has amply exhibited its corporate social responsibilities. It is an eye opener and a role model for other corporate institutions," Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa said.
It would take several years to reconstruct the damage caused by the state's worst ever floods, he said.
"As a company that believes strongly in social investments, we hope to help the affected communities not only rebuild, but build a sustainable and stronger future", CISCO's Chief Globalisation Officer Wim Elfrink Elfrink said.
A vocational training centre and a disaster shelter to enable people take refuge in case of natural calamities would also be built, CISCO Vice-President and Managing Director (Development) Arvind Sitaraman said.
The MoU was signed by Sitaraman and Jamdhar,nodal officer for relief operations, on behalf of Karnataka government.