Punj Lloyd Launches Third Phase of "Life Enrichment" Programme

Workers' Welfare Initiatives for Better Living, Better Tomorrow. End Quote

(1888PressRelease) August 01, 2011 - New Delhi: Punj Lloyd, a diversified international engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) conglomerate, today announced the launch of the third phase of its workers' welfare programme titled 'Life Enrichment', across its project sites at Cuddalore Refinery in Tamil Nadu, Mangalore Refinery in Karnataka and Dahej in Gujarat.

The Phase III programme is an extension of Phase II undertaken by Punj Lloyd at three Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) refinery project sites in 2010. In view of the quality work done by Punj Lloyd for its workers, International Finance Corporation (IFC) had also joined hands with Punj Lloyd and became the grant partner for Phase II of the programme last year.

Aimed at improving the lives of workers at their workplace and living quarters, the programme undertakes various on-ground activities by way of organising free medical check-up camps, providing clean water and sanitation facilities and most essentially spreading awareness and increasing knowledge about HIV/AIDS and other epidemic diseases like malaria, dengue and the like. The programme uses various communication tools, including focus group discussions and street plays. All these form part of concerted efforts of Punj Lloyd to standardise the living and health conditions of migrant workers and enrich their lives.

Speaking on the event, PK Gupta, Director, Punj Lloyd, said: "We strongly feel that for our nation to grow, it is important for our society to address and resolve the issues that pose as bottlenecks to its growth, including those pertaining to the spread of HIV/AIDS. It is a matter of pride that our programme has now reached the third phase, thereby widening our worker base. The combined benefits of better health through yoga, medical clinics, counselling and cleaner living conditions will contribute to an improved and enriched life for our workers."

The Population Council of India conducted an evaluation of Punj Lloyd's Life Enrichment Programme in 2010 to measure its impact. The report stated: "The evaluation study findings indicate that there were significant improvements in knowledge about safety, hygiene, health and sexually-transmitted infections with exposure to life enrichment programme. The factors responsible for the programme's success are largely attributed to the active participation of the company management and social recognition of their workers, who were active participants in the programme implementation."

Life Enrichment was first launched as an HIV/AIDS intervention programme at Punj Lloyd project site, Medicity in 2007. Being an EPC company, construction workers are the mainstay of the company's projects and migrant workers are a disadvantaged section of the society, vulnerable to diseases, especially HIV and AIDS. However, the stigma and fear associated with HIV/AIDS was a serious deterrent to workers' involvement in the programme, and Punj Lloyd quickly rechristened the programme 'Life Enrichment', reflecting its all encompassing and holistic nature.

Punj Lloyd is confident that the "Life Enrichment" programme will have a cascading effect and will reach far and wide. Nitin K Mishra, Project Manager - Cuddalore Refinery, who was also an ambassador in the implementation of Life Enrichment programme at the Hydrocracker Unit in Haldia, said: "I was delighted to hear that my site has been selected in the Phase III. In Phase II, I had witnessed the programme reach out to every site worker, transforming their lives".
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About Punj Lloyd:
Punj Lloyd (BSE SCRIP ID: PUNJLLOYD, NSE SYMBOL: PUNJLLOYD) The Punj Lloyd Group is a diversified international conglomerate offering EPC services in Energy and Infrastructure along with engineering and manufacturing capabilities in the Defence sector. Known for its capabilities in delivering mega projects "on time," thereby ensuring repeat customers, the Group possesses a rich experience of successfully delivered projects across the globe, while maintaining the highest standards of health, safety, environment and quality (HSEQ). Further information about the Group is available at www.punjlloydgroup.com.
For further information, please contact:-

Avian Media
Sharmistha Ghosh
9891859626
sharmistha ( @ ) avian-media dot com

Neha Sharma
9871571721
nehasharma ( @ ) avian-media dot com

Punj Lloyd
Louise Sharma
louise ( @ ) punjlloyd dot com

Vaibhav Arora
vaibhavarora ( @ ) punjlloyd dot com

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