About Persistent Foundation

Since 1995, Persistent Systems has dedicated 1% of profits to social change, culminating in the Persistent Foundation’s launch in 2009 to magnify our impact in Health, Education, Community Development, and the Preservation of Heritage and Wildlife. Operating in Pune, Nagpur, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Goa, our journey has been about expanding the scope of Corporate Social Responsibility into a deeply rooted commitment to nurturing communities through focused collaboration, sustainable solutions, and genuine partnership.

Our Vision

To provide sustainable solutions for local communities around Healthcare, Education and Community Development to empower long-lasting impact.

Our Mission

To encourage inspired action from individuals and groups through the contribution of time and resources to build a better society for humanity.

Message from the Chairperson

As Joey Tribbiani of the famous show Friends says, “there’s no unselfish good deed”, because doing good makes you feel good. Psychologists and philosophers have believed that every action, however altruistic, is always motivated by the desire to feel happy. I endorse this theory through lived experience. The emotions of gratification, joy, contentment and humility that I feel at the beginning and end of each year add to my repertoire of life’s memories of serving society.

The Persistent Foundation is 17 years old. We have been in the business of giving back to society and making a difference for close to two decades. The impact created in the neighborhoods we work with has been tangible and perceptible. The different communities we have served, including school students, women, farmers, infants, girls in college, senior citizens, the specially abled, the mentally ill, rural communities, animals and birds, have benefitted from various interventions such as education scholarships, health screenings, cataract surgeries, cleft surgeries, cochlear implants, vaccinations, afforestation, building wells and dams, cattle breeding, fodder and vaccinations, conserving rare bird species, building an aviary, helping in tiger census exercises, monitoring elephant movement and several other initiatives.

In Health, we continue to help save and change lives through our cleft lip and palate surgeries, paediatric cardiac surgeries, adult cataract surgeries and cochlear implants. The defining moment of the year was when a cardiac surgery was successfully performed on an 8-day-old baby, giving him the chance to grow up and live a healthy life. Our oldest beneficiaries tend to be 85 years old, and everyone in between. Our facial cleft and palate programme is the biggest health initiative, helping 1,000 children with corrective surgeries and more than 2,000 with speech and language improvement. To see the cochlear implant kids be able to hear and speak is an amazing sight to watch. We helped 67 kids regain their hearing. Two thousand senior citizens had their eyesight restored and were given a new lease of life. Fourteen hundred children were administered nutritional milk supplements, showing significant improvement in their physical milestones. This year, we ventured into the realm of mental health. It is a comprehensive programme that includes awareness, treatment, counselling and rehabilitation for 700 affected individuals.

In Education, our signature initiative is the Kiran programme. Identifying bright young minds in the technology domain and helping them realize their potential is a real-life game changer. To see these young women step out into the world after four years under our guidance and support, entering the corporate world with confidence and equal opportunity, is truly a moment of pride for me. We have helped 600 girls leave their humble beginnings and step into a prosperous and aspirational future. The Foundation was able to provide over 19,000 children with educational aids through support classes and after-school assistance. This has shown significant improvement in academic performance and learning efficiency. Hygiene and cleanliness habits have been inculcated among schoolchildren through WASH interventions. Ninety young Florence Nightingales were able to complete their nursing training and are now employed in hospitals, serving the needy and saving lives. Twenty-five specially abled athletes and ten hearing-impaired sports coaches were provided sports equipment to help improve training. This resulted in many para-athletes winning medals at various international and domestic tournaments. Two hundred specially abled individuals were given skill-based training and assistance in finding employment. It is always enriching and rewarding to see people find their path and achieve success. To think that a little money and guidance can go such a long way in transforming talented lives is deeply fulfilling.

The Foundation executed several key projectsfor Community Development. Providing better farming techniques, better quality seeds and fertilisers, training in artificial intelligence and itsuses in agricultural practices, efficient irrigation cycles, building dams and bunds to store water, and desilting of streams and canals are some of the initiatives undertaken in rural communities. We planted more than 40,000 trees this year across seven locations, enabling afforestation and helping restore forest cover. We helped install 350 domestic biogas plants in homes across more than 100 villages, providing a sustainable alternative to cooking gas. This initiative was so well received that villagers contributed to the cost themselves. The construction of wells to provide easy access to drinking water has earned us countless blessings. Solar lifts and pumps help irrigate farms. Building reservoirs to store water helps farming communities harvest one additional crop, increasing both yield and income. All of these interventions have contributed to improving agricultural productivity and livelihoods.

The preservation of heritage and wildlife is a new and challenging focus area. We are excited to be able to help animals and birds retain their place in the ecosystem. We try to contribute, in our small way, to conserving nature and its inhabitants. This past year, we funded the operations of an aviary that treats almost 700 birds, of which 500 healthy birds were released back into the wild. We helped set up a drone-based communication system for tiger census operations in the Tadoba and Pench Reserves. Almost 40 AI-monitored camera traps were set up to track animal movement and locate injured or dead animals. Our efforts to preserve the nests of the white-bellied sea eagle continue to bear fruit. More eagles are being born and their numbers are steadily increasing. We also continue to support the local museum and help preserve ancient tribal languages by printing books for children to learn from in schools.

Our CSR initiatives in the USA have been gathering momentum during the past year. We have taken baby steps towards serving local communities there. We were saddened to observe homelessness and hunger within affluent cities. The World Food Movement helped us provide hot meals to underprivileged students, homeless adults and homeless veterans in New York. Elijah’s Promise did the same in New Jersey, as did Sai Ashraya in Santa Clara. The Shakti campaign was launched to help destitute women re-enter the job market and become financially independent. School kits and hygiene kits were assembled and distributed to local schools and veteran organisations. The wheels have been put in motion across seven locations in the USA, and positive energy flows in from all directions. Our enthusiastic employees in Dallas and Seattle have also engaged with local schools and veteran communities to provide support for their initiatives. The most thrilling moment for us was participating in the Veterans Day Parade in New York on November 11, commemorating 250 years of the US Military. Fifteen employees from the Bridgewater office in New Jersey walked in the parade, and it was a proud moment for us to be part of such a historic event.

The Persistent Foundation team has always believed that we are Agents of Change. The dedication and commitment that I see from both our teams fills me with great zest and enthusiasm to move ahead. The faith of our Board Members and Trustees has been rock solid. Their support and mentorship have been crucial to our success and growth over the years. Our colleagues have been extremely generous with their time and donations towards volunteering opportunities. Our shareholders have always been supportive and appreciative of our efforts. All of this gives us encouragement and motivation for the accomplishments that lie ahead. Our NGO partners are the backbone of our service and the champions of our success. I express my sincere gratitude to every person associated with us over the years.

With all the gratitude and humility.

Trustees

Powering our mission under the able guidance of our trustees.

Anju Routiya

Akshay Sonawane

Awards

Outstanding Initiatives under Corporate Social Responsibility for the year 2016-17

FY 2017

Best CSR Award in IT sector at Nagpur, Year 2016

FY 2016

Award by Hyderabad Software Enterprises Association For Innovative & Path breaking initiatives in the areas of Community Development& Environment Protection by Member Companies, Year 2016

FY 2016

CSR Award: Award by AMITY university, Year 2014

FY 2014

CSR excellence award: Award by ASM group, Year 2014

FY 2014

CSR award: Award by Business Standard Ltd., Year 2014

FY 2014

Best CSR practices: Award by Global CSR Excellence & Leadership, Year 2014

FY 2014

Best CSR practices: Award by Global CSR, Year 2014

FY 2014

HR Practices in Corporate Social Responsibility: Award by ET NOW, Year 2013

FY 2013

Best CSR strategy: Award by India Human Capital Awards, Year 2012

FY 2012