| lTC's celebrated 'e-Choupal'
initiative has won the first World Business Award instituted jointly by the Intemational
Chamber of Commerce, the United Nations Development Programme and the HRH Prince of Wales
International Business Leaders Forum. The 'e-Choupal' was selected from 64 nominations
across 27 countries. The award, instituted in support of the United Nations Millennium
Development Goals, honours business-driven initiatives that make a difference to society
at a national level, by helping reduce poverty and creating sustainable livelihood
opportunities. |
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| lTC's 'e-Choupal' initiative is an impactful
model for fulfilling these objectives. It empowers farmers with expert knowledge by
innovatively leveraging information technology. ITC provides farmers real time access to
customised knowledge on specially designed websites in their own languages -helping them
align farm output to market demands and secure better quality, productivity and improved
price discovery. |
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| The 'e-Choupal' is already empowering
over 2.4 million farmers through 4,100 installations covering 21,000 villages across six
states of India. Over the next decade, ITC plans to cover 100,000 villages, representing
1/6th of India's villages to create more than 10 million e-farmers. |
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| ITC takes this opportunity to thank the
Central Government, the various State Governments, District authorities, Panchayats, NGOs,
trade and industry organisations for their immense support in enabling ITC take forward
the 'e-Choupal' movement. |
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| ITC accepts this award on behalf of
millions of Indian farmers whose lives and landscapes the 'e-Choupal' seeks to transform.
For lTC, this is a celebration of a small beginning -the first step in a long journey
which will not end till every Indian farmer is reached. |
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| The 'e-Choupal' is yet another
expression of lTC's commitment beyond the market. Of a conviction that country must come
before corporation. Of a true pride in being Citizen First. |
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