Yaounde: Indian firm, Kalpataru, puts smiles on faces on nearly 50 orphans.

Beneficiary orphans and members of the Kalpataru team

Some 47 orphans of the St Therese Orphanage, Obili, Yaounde Saturday October 5, had reasons to smile as they received essential material items courtesy of Kalpataru International Projects, one of India’s leading engineering firms.



The children were full of excitement following the donation carried out by the Indian engineering company.

The philanthropic exercise was carried out as part of activities to celebrate the 80th birthday of the Chairman of Kalpataru International, Mufat Raj Munot.

The team which visited the Yaounde orphanage included the Indian High Commissioner to Cameroon, His Excellency Vijay Khanduja and Kalpataru Country Head for Cameroon, Raghuram.

The ceremony was also attended by the head of Human Resource and Administration at Kalpataru Cameroon office, Tapan Kumar Thakur and an official from SONATREL.

During the outing, the Kalpataru delegation donated essential items and spent quality time with underprivileged children. 

The items included amongst others books, pencils, bags of rice, cartoons of biscuits, milk, cartoons of vegetable oil and beverages.

Speaking during the visit, Indian High Commissioner to Cameroon, Vivaj Khanduja praised Kalpataru, noting that the company truly embodies the spirit of its name—"Kalpavriksha", loosely translated into English as wish-fulfilling divine tree which spreads happiness and hope in the communities it serves. 

While showering praises on Kalpataru, the senior diplomat boasted that “Indian companies are known for carrying out Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR activities”.

He said: “I am very happy that this is the first occasion I am attending via Kalpataru company which is into electricity transmission line business here in Cameroon. They are carrying out projects linking Cameroon and Chad. They have come to this orphanage to donate foodstuff and also stationary items on the occasion of their chairman’s birthday celebration”.

“It is a very happy occasion and I am particularly pleased to interact with the children and with the management here. They are doing a wonderful job in taking care of these children who require support from the society,” the diplomat added.

The donation at the orphanage, it was disclosed, not only underscores Kalpataru's dedication to corporate social responsibility but also its role as a vital player in Cameroon’s development.

Commenting on the assistance offered the orphans, Kalpataru country boss, J. Raghuram explained that the vision of the Chairman of the company is not only to invest in projects but to change the lives of vulnerable people. 

Describing his company’s chairman as a visionary leader, Raghuram was blunt that: “We have to go beyond the projects. Whatever profit we get; we use part of it to carry out charitable acts which will change a section of the society that requires support”.

Indian High Commissioner, Kalpataru country boss symbolically handing donation to head of orphanage

 

 

 

Boosting development in Cameroon

Kalpataru International Projects, it should be said is one of India’s leading engineering firms.

Under the leadership of J. Raghuram, the Country Head for Cameroon, Kalpataru has successfully executed critical power transmission and distribution projects while maintaining a remarkable record of zero manpower loss. 

The company’s resilience was especially evident as it completed significant projects during the challenging COVID-19 pandemic, showcasing its commitment to growth and development in the region.

In 2023, Kalpataru Projects International Limited and Transrail Lighting Limited secured three lots of the Cameroon-Chad electrical interconnection project, Pirect.

Kalpataru and partner are responsible for the design, supply, and installation of high-voltage lines for the 225 kV interconnection between the Southern Interconnected Network, RIS and the Northern Interconnected Network, RIN in three lots. 

The total value of the contract is estimated at a little more than 119.7 billion FCFA, with a 20-month execution period for each lot. In detail, Kalpataru Projects International Limited secured lots 1 and 2 of the project. 

Lot 1, valued at 41.4 billion FCFA, involves high-voltage line work from Nachtigal to Yoko in the Centre Region. 

Lot 2 covers the construction of a high-voltage line from Yoko to Tibati in the Adamawa Region for an envelope of 34.1 billion FCFA.

Lot 3 is awarded to Transrail Lighting Limited and involves the design, supply, and installation of the high-voltage line from Tibati to Wouro Soua in the Adamawa Region at a cost of 44.2 billion FCFA.

Kalpataru has previously worked on several electrical projects in Africa and Cameroon, including the construction of the 225 kV power transmission line between Nkongsamba-Bafoussam and Yaounde-Abong-Mbang.

Once completed, the Cameroon-Chad electrical interconnection project aims to supply the northern regions of Cameroon and Chad, thereby improving electricity access rates in both countries. 

It involves transporting the electric power generated by the Nachtigal Dam, over a transport network spanning more than 1,300 km to reach the Chadian city of Bongor.

Scheduled for delivery in 2027, the project is financed by the World Bank, the African Development Bank, the Islamic Development Bank and European Union, and the two countries involved.

 

 

 

This story was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3253 of Tuesday October 08, 2024

 

 

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