PART-A
A US $44.3 billion corporation, the Aditya Birla Group is in the League of Fortune 500. Anchored by an extraordinary force of over 120,000 employees belonging to 42 nationalities, the Group is built on a strong foundation of stakeholder value creation. With over seven decades of responsible business practices, our businesses have grown into global powerhouses in a wide range of sectors – metals, textiles, carbon black, telecom and cement. Today, over 50% of Group revenues flow from overseas operations that span 34 countries in North and South America, Africa and Asia.
With a strong focus on stakeholder value creation, Aditya Birla Group has been big in people’s lives in many ways. The main areas of focus are education (Aditya Bal Vidya Mandirs, Balwadis for elementary education), livelihood (4,500 self-help groups created with an overall view to empower women, partnership with industrial training institutes, vocational training through Aditya Birla Rural Technology Parks, watershed development), social change (dowry-less marriage, widow remarriage, de-addiction programmes),Aditya Birla CSR Centre of Excellence and Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development and performance management(developing plans for the development of the marginalized).
Moving on to sustainability in the way they work, Novel is the world’s largest recycler of used beverage cans and Idea Cellular launched the ‘Green Idea’ initiative with Aditya Birla Group aiming at reduction in carbon dioxide emission. There is also a continuous endeavour to reduce carbon footprint, reduce water consumption and conversion of waste to raw material.
Giving back to the society is a cause that has been close to my heart and hence I have grown to appreciate the initiatives taken by Aditya Birla Group, in particular, the focus on de-addiction programmes and dowry-less marriage. I also am a strong proponent of higher education, for it is a respectable way to rise out of poverty which is again a key focus area for the Aditya Birla Group.
With such a strong vision to contribute to the country, the group has built a strong image of being a caring corporate citizen and thus, it has struck a chord with people of all socio-economic groups. Acting on an ethos of generosity and compassion is the cornerstone of their CSR policy which shall work in maintaining their brand image for many years to come.
Biggest influence Aditya Birla Group had on me was through their fashion segment. As I follow the principle of Dress to Impress, there is no fashion retail which provides the best dress in India. Wearing those dresses gave me a whole new level of confidence while doing my tasks and exclusive events. Brands like Van Heusen, Peter England, Allen Solly available on Planet Fashion have been go-to fashion shops.
PART-B
In October-November 2014, during the Diwali break and my 12th standard, I went to my hometown Jodhpur from Ahmedabad to seek a refreshment break from the rigorous curriculum of studies. In the hope that when I come back, I would have ample time to study for the March 2016 CBSE Board exams and get good marks and join a prestigious commerce college in the country.
I was enjoying my time and life there with all my cousins and family, knowing little that on the final days of our holidays, one morning I would wake up with all the mosquito bites on my body, resulting in deterioration of my health as the day progressed. On consulting with the doctor, he diagnosed a mild fever suggesting that I would be fine within two days. However, my condition didn’t improve, and when I came back to Ahmedabad after two days, we consulted another doctor. After all the tests, I was diagnosed with severe Dengue and immediately admitted to the hospital.
This broke me from inside as I realized I wouldn't be able to study for quite some time as I didn’t have the energy to sit and study. Lying on the bed day in, day out all I had was negative thoughts such as failing in exams, maybe a year back, not getting good marks, not being admitted in a good college, among others. By mid-December, my condition improved, but life had another problem in the store. Blood started to come out from my urine, which reduced my already depleted platelets to a bare minimum level of around 10,000. To put it in context a healthy body has about1,50,000 – 4,50,000 platelets. This further put me to bed-rest and all the medication and nutrition required were used to increase platelet counts.
Time was against me as it was already mid-January by which my condition started to improve, for good this time. After around two months of suffering on the bed, by January end, I began to walk again at my near normal level. I took stock of the studies I had missed in this period and realized it was a lot, and it demanded a lot of hard work and discipline even to have a chance to secure a decent enough percentage.
I contacted my school and tuition faculties to seek their guidance to which they were more than willing to provide. With only one month left to study what I had missed plus to revise everything which I had almost forgotten what I had learned throughout the year, I was scared and nervous but determined to rise to do everything I could.
I worked and studied hard, and when the results came out on 25th May 2015, I secured 95% marks, highest in my entire family, and among the toppers of my school. And later. I was admitted to one of the most prestigious college ,i.e, Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics, which made me immensely proud. That day, I realized the feeling of being successful against all the odds and that gave me more motivation to attain more such successes in my life and career. This situation taught me no matter what, never give up, if you believe there is light at the end of the tunnel. Keep working hard, have faith in yourself, be determined, and success shall be yours.
