Sophos Adopts Village In Gujarat

Sophos announced that it has adopted Ropda village as a part of its CSR initiative to improve the welfare of people in rural India. After its acquisition of Cyberoam, Sophos, a UK-based company has widened its reach in India through a strong product portfolio, which includes security solutions for network, end-users and server protection. The company is driven by a strong sense of social responsibility and it’s an integral part of its business operations. Apart from helping bolster the cyber security infrastructure of businesses with next generation security solutions, the company also wants to make the world a better place through its numerous, diverse and ongoing social initiatives.

Village adoption is one amongst a long lineup of Sophos’s short and long term CSR initiatives in India that include, but are not limited to, organizing blood donation camps for thalassemia children, joining hands with Polio foundation to fight diabetes in India through Sophos Juvenile Diabetes Centre and working with Blind People’s Association and Smile Foundation to help the physical challenged live with dignity.

The adoption of Ropda village, situated at a distance of 11 km from Ahmedabad, is backed by a great deal of thought and research. The company ensured that the people of the village were receptive to new ideas and is on the same page as far as the development goals are concerned. The plan is to bring about all-round development of the village by focusing on key areas like education, sanitation, basic infrastructure, medical facilities and women empowerment.

Sophos has earmarked a budget of Rs. 1 crore for these development activities and half it has already been consumed for village welfare activities. This money will be spent on improving the existing school infrastructure, supporting academic programs and improving the overall quality of education. Another critical investment area will be sanitation wherein the company will build toilets for 107 houses, improve drainage and install dustbins at various locations in the village.

Sophos is a firm believer in using environment friendly technology for the greater good and has installed solar street lights to meet the energy requirement of the village community. There will also be a primary focus on building water conservation structures with the active involvement of the villagers; the objective is to preserve rainwater and facilitate agricultural activities.

Sharing his thoughts on the proposed holistic development plan for the village, Vijay Rane, Vice President (HR), Sophos India, said, “In order to improve the health and wellness of villagers, the plan is to setup a rural clinic and organize health camps at regular intervals. Sophos also plans to further the cause of women empowerment in the village by imparting training in arts, crafts and other skillsets. The objective is to make them self-dependent. “The company will also work with the Village Development Committee to ensure all development work in the village is processed smoothly and happens on time.

Sophos’s rural initiatives also have complete employee support and many of them are going to Ropda every Saturday, to educate school children. Commenting on this village adoption, Mr. Hemal Patel, Senior Vice President, IT and Operations Sophos said, “Our Company is committed to improving the quality of life of the economically disadvantaged section of the Indian populace. We believe adopting a village is one of the ways we can contribute to giving back to the community. Our core objective is to become a successful catalyst for positive change and make Ropda self-reliant. The aim is to enhance education, improve living conditions and change the village economy for the better.”