Hyundai Motor India Foundation (HMIF), the corporate social responsibility arm of Hyundai Motor India, today inaugurated renovated public infrastructure facilities as part of their second ‘Dream Village’ project in Vallakottai, Kancheepuram district.

The renovated village administrative office, panchayat building, health centre, sanitary complex, public distribution shop and the village pond were re-dedicated by YK Koo, managing director, Hyundai Motor India.

Speaking on the occasion, YK Koo said, “We do not believe in charity, we are focused on facilitating change. The Dream village project has been designed on the pillars of sustenance and empowerment and I am really happy to see the transformation of both the amenities and its residents. Our skill training programs have given hope of economic independence to the community. There is a marked change in their confidence levels, which I hope only grows.  We have rolled out plans for developing more such villages in the immediate future.”

Vallakottai in Kanchipuram district has over 2,500 residents and HMIF has invested over Rs 80 lakh on various developmental activities since November 2015. With revamping and upgrading the existing facilities being the focus, HMIF trained residents in skills such as driving, EDP, embroidery and tailoring, catering, papad making, dairy farming, and took up community activities like village main pond rejuvenation and building sanitation complex.

In addition, the villagers were provided complete assistance to set up commercially viable projects in dairy farming, catering service, and papad making, which helped 40 families in becoming independent. Various camps were also held to promote health and hygiene-related practices to school children and the community impacting over 1000 individuals.

HMIF’s first Dream Village project in Mevaloorkuppam, also in Kancheepuram district, was successfully completed with a total investment of Rs 95 lakhs. Apart from sanitation and upgradation of village facilities, especially schools, the villagers here were trained in income generating projects like pickle and candle making, tailoring and driving. This aside, HMIF has upgraded sanitation and civic facilities in over 64 villages in the Kancheepuram - Sriperumbudur block.

Since 2006, HMIF has undertaken a variety of sustainable projects. At least 195 schools and 90,000 students have benefitted with benches and desks and almost 750 families now have clean sanitation facilities. HMIF has revamped sanitation facilities in over 48 village schools with 50 more on the anvil. The ‘Go green’ initiative has rejuvenated 171 hectare of arid land till date in Kancheepuram, Thiruvallur and Vellore districts and has also provided 240 marginalised farmers a sustainable livelihood, preventing their migration to cities for menial jobs.