Helping communities help themselves in India

Shakti Hörmann, in collaboration with the Akshaya Patra Foundation, has launched a breakfast programme for the schools in Gagillapur. To implement this programme, Shakti Hörmann also sponsored a vehicle to transport the food. Since the start of the new semester at the beginning of July 2022, pupils from four different schools have been provided with daily breakfast, which has increased motivation and also attendance at the schools. The parents of the children are delighted and grateful that the breakfast programme exists, as it allows them to concentrate fully on their daily work.

One of the most serious problems in Indian suburbs is the scarcity of water. This is the reason why the construction of a water tower and the installation of a water treatment plant was one of the first projects financed by Hörmann. The plant supplies over 300 households with clean drinking water.

Hörmann supported the construction of a Catholic Church, which was built with donations from India and international aid. In comparison to other parts of India, which are predominantly Hindu, the percentage of Christians living in Gagillapur is relatively high.

Hörmann has advocated the establishment of a local citizens' committee, the so-called “Village Development Committee”, for the implementation of projects and as an independent representative of the population in Gagillapur. This committee represents the interests of local citizens and focuses on comprehensive, long-term and sustainable development in the region.

In order to be entitled to social benefits and access to the Indian health system, citizens in India must register with the authorities and fill out various forms. There are many people, especially from socially weaker neighbourhoods in Gagillapur, who are illiterate and therefore unable to register themselves. Hörmann supported these people with administrative procedures, e.g. applying for an identity card or a disability pension, or opening a bank account to receive welfare payments from the state.

Living in close proximity to a city means a constant pressure on household income because of a high cost of living. Particularly women from Gagillapur are looking for ways to supplement their income. In response, Hörmann has launched a free tailoring training programme. Now with basic skills under their belt, the graduates of the programme are able to take on tailoring work independently.

Advancing health and education plays an important role in the activities sponsored by Hörmann. For example, an additional teacher was sponsored at a primary school and all children in Gagillapur were provided with school bags and shoes. Moreover, health camps for women and children were organised and nutrition counselling for families was introduced. Pregnant women were provided with transport to the nearest health centre for monthly check-ups.

For Hörmann, responsibility for the environment and future generations is part of its daily business. In cooperation with the municipal administration and another local company, the entire Gagillapur street lighting was equipped with modern and energy-efficient LED technology. Furthermore, lamps were set up in other areas where none were previously available with the help of geo-mapping. In total, over 700 LED street lights were installed in Gagillapur, reducing energy consumption by more than 50%.

At its location in Gagillapur, near the Indian city of Dundigal, Hörmann is committed to improving the living conditions of the local population. Together with GIZ (Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit – German Corporation for International Cooperation), a project was set up in 2018 to create a sustainable waste management system, including the establishment of a waste collection service and a waste separation concept. Also, a previously unofficial rubbish dump was completely emptied and cleaned up. The cooperation measure was implemented as part of the develoPP program of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). After more than three years, it was successfully handed over to the city in 2022.

Bathukamma (Flower Festival) is a cultural festival celebrated mainly in the Indian state of Telangana and is of high significance for the inhabitants. The festivities are held every year in September / October and last nine days. The festival is dedicated to thanking Goddess Parvati for her blessings on the harvest and income. For the celebrations in Gagillapur, Hörmann sponsored the construction of a staircase, “Bathukamma Ghat”, at Kothinaru Cheruvu Lake. It is the place where the important festival takes place every year.

Together with the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ), Hörmann organised a round table in Gagillapur on 26 February 2020 with various stakeholders from the region. In addition to local political and business leaders, Karin Stoll, Consul General of the German Consulate General in Chennai, also attended. The goal of the event was to gain a better understanding of the different interests of all stakeholders to further advance the development of the region in a collaborative and sustainable manner.

Several measures were also introduced at the manufacturing location of Shakti Hörmann itself to improve the company’s ecobalance through sustainable and energy-efficient measures. In recognition of this, Shakti Hörmann received the platinum award from the Indian Green Building Council, which is the highest award granted by the institute for environmental protection concepts in the industrial sector. At the Shakti Hörmann location, measures for water, energy, and raw material savings were implemented.

Until his retirement mid-2020, Lorenz Pohlmeier was responsible for the project development and implementation in Gagillapur as an independent consultant for Hörmann. His report from 2017 summarises the initial challenges on location and the first successes of the engagement in the region.