BHP Billiton today launched its Development Foundation for India at a ceremony in Bhubaneswar, India and announced its first funding agreement, which is with the L.V. Prasad Eye Institute.

The Foundation will contribute to India’s education, health, rural development and indigenous development, across all its states.

M S Ramachandran, Chairman of the BHP Billiton India Development Foundation, said that the Foundation’s principal role was to select partners for long-term community development projects particularly in regions where BHP Billiton is actively engaged in exploration and development activity.

“We want the Foundation’s work to be a clear demonstration of our commitment to ensuring India’s broader communities will benefit from the success of our mining activities in the country,” he said.

Mr Don Carroll, President BHP Billiton India, added that the Foundation, which has an initial budget of Rupees 13 crores over three years, had been established to invest in India’s human and social capabilities, in line with BHP Billiton’s commitment to social responsibility and sustainability.

“The Foundation will create a valuable legacy that transcends mining activities and contributes to social development at local and state level”, he said.

The Foundation is modeled on other foundations established by BHP Billiton around the world, including the Escondida Foundation in Chile and the Mozal Community Development Trust in Mozambique. BHP Billiton has won several international awards for its commitment to the community.

The Foundation will work primarily through Indian NGOs that are assessed as having the requisite probity, proven delivery of outcomes for the poor and the capacity for long term partnerships with BHP Billiton.

The L.V. Prasad Eye Institute has been assessed as meeting these criteria and is the first NGO to sign an agreement with the Foundation.  Founded in Hyderabad in 1986, the Institute's charter aims at providing 50 percent of its surgical services free of cost to the economically disadvantaged.  The Institute is now building a major eye institute, The Bhubaneswar Eye Institute. This  will have three major centres: a Clinical Center, which will encompass all patient care activities; an Education Center, providing training to a range of eye professionals; and a Research Center.  

The Foundation will provide approximately Rupees 2.2 crores  to support  the provision of a high quality surgical facility in the Bhubaneswar Eye Hospital, as well as the costs of fitting out two outpatient rooms and providing free outpatient care for the poor for 12 months.

Attending the ceremony, Chairman of the Trustees of the L.V. Prasad Eye Institute,  Dr Gullapalli N. Rao, said  "This significant support from BHP Billiton is a great example of corporate social responsibility, making world-class eye care accessible to some of the most disadvantaged people of India. We are very pleased to have secured this collaboration with an internationally reputed corporation.”