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Global Vipassana Pagoda

Corporate Social Responsibility

CSR contributions/ donations for eligible Projects of Global Vipassana Foundation.

CSR is abbreviated form of term ‘Corporate Social Responsibility’. In Companies Act 2013, a new provision has been inserted in the form of Section 135 which introduces Corporate Social Responsibility. The said provision paves way for corporate entities to become partner in social responsibility. This section has made it mandatory for certain specified companies to compulsorily contribute towards CSR.
Every company having net worth of rupees five hundred crore or more, or turnover of rupees one thousand crore or more or a net profit of rupees five crore or more are made liable/ or made to spend for additional 2% expenditure under Section 135(1) of the Companies Act, 2013. Any CSR expenditure which is allowed as a deduction under other sections such as section 80G is permissible.
Global Vipassana Pagoda calls upon the corporate entities to serve to the interests of the society through collaborations in the CSR Projects in the campus of Global Vipassana Pagoda at Gorai, Mumbai.

Global Vipassana Foundation is Recognised Not for Profit Charitable trust for undertaking such eligible CSR PROJECTS / ACTIVITIES PRESCRIBED UNDER THE ABOVE ACT.

Important Documents related to CSR

Contact for further details – at csr@globalpagoda.org Or call 8291894644 / 9920029786

GLOBAL VIPASSANA FOUNDATION
For Peace and Harmony

Corporate Social Responsibility Initiatives under Ministry of Corporate affairs CSR Schedule VII section 135 applicable items -

Item No. 1 - Eradicating hunger, poverty and malnutrition, promoting health care including preventive health care and sanitation including contribution to the Swachh Bharat Kosh set-up by the Central Government for the promotion of sanitation and making available safe drinking water.

Sect. 135

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

Benefits of All Beings

ESTIMATE
Total cost in Rs. lakhs

Item No
(i)

1) Ambulance & First Aid Centre
2) Setting up common washroom facilities for drivers, public etc.
3) Housekeeping devices & cleaning Machines

Promoting health care including preventive health care and sanitation

155

 

1) Ambulance with First Aid care facility & paramedic training for emergency health care.

There is no hospital in Gorai village; in case of an emergency medical challenge or accident or any incident we need to commute by road over 2 hrs. Via Bhayander to reach the city area. We need to give immediate first aid to save life.
There are thousands of visitors daily and much more on weekends, Public holidays & special occasions.
Thus we need to be prepared for any type of medical emergency for public visiting Pagoda. Hence there is a need for quick transportation in ambulances in the wider interest of the public with trained staff for imparting basic emergency aid including CPR or First-Aid treatment (including snake bites) for visitors.

55

 

2) Setting up common washroom facilities for drivers/ support staff etc. of public utility Services – Pvt./ Govt Bus drivers, private/ tourist cars vehicle operators & autos, tongas etc. and walkers from jetty at assembly point outside the entry point of pagoda.

There are no public toilets or urinals nearby for over 3 to 4 kms around to Pagoda as the result public urinate and defecate in open areas while reaching here.

It results in unhygienic conditions and health issues for all.

The women and children face embarrassing challenges while reaching here.

Hence the need to set up basic public toilets with septic tanks to comply with the needs of Swachh Bharat & ""open-defecation free"" (ODF) area.

50

 

3) Housekeeping devices and
cleaning Machines.

The campus is spread over 16 acres and maintaining it on a day-to-day basis manually with cleaning and housekeeping operations are becoming difficult to be done due to constant heavy use of public urinals/ washrooms & mother care units.

50

 

SUB-TOTAL A.

155

Item No. 2- Promoting education, including special education and employment enhancing vocation skills especially among children, women, elderly and the differently abled and livelihood enhancement projects.

 

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

BENEFITS OF ALL BEINGS

 

Item
No (ii)

1) Dhammalaya -2
2) Upgrading Info Center
3) Vipassana Help Desk
4) Launch of Laser Show
5) Educational Film
6) Inclusion in the Buddha circuit
7) Outdoor Communication

Promoting education, including special education.

2333

 

1) Dhammalaya -2 Construction of Meditation Building for Meditators cum Anapana meditation centre for Visitors.

There is an increasing demand from old & serious meditators wanting to meditate in Pagoda under the relics of Buddha and at Bodhi Tree in the campus. But there is no facility for overnight stay (as they come from faraway places of MMR, neighboring cities and all over India.)

Large groups of students from schools and colleges feel disappointed as there are no large meditation halls.

We fall short to cater to their basic right of education (under special education) & knowledge of meditation techniques of Anapana & knowledge of Vipassana Meditation.

Hence in the wider interests of public and students; an exclusive building G + 4 storey structure is proposed of the total area of more than 3000 Sq. mtrs. and having dormitories for residential accommodation and big halls for Anapana Meditation.

1000

 

2) Upgrading Info Center to promote Audio Tour App and facilitation of Visitors and scanned surveillance at entry.

Since inauguration in 2009 there has been a steady increase of visitors to Global Pagoda. In over last 5 years the campus had approx. 7.3 lakh visitors in 2009 and approx. 20 lakh visitors in 2019.

With the continuous growth in visitors to Pagoda from far-off places; they face a lot of hardships and endure physical and mental strain by the time they reach.
They like to be seated and take rest while being given 1st hand information, orientation and attended by Information Officers and Tourist guides.

Foreign visitors/ meditators need to be facilitated, addressed, checked and also be informed.
The info centre also advises to follow basic health & safety norms and segregation. Visitors are seated at Info centre and introduced to Pagoda and informed of various facilities and helped to download Audio tour App for various touch points in pagoda.
Information Centre's ambience and decor need to motivate visitors to seek information.
Scanned (facial) surveillance cum info Centre is suggested by many including Government security agencies.

48

 

3) Vipassana Help Desk / Kiosk for information & registration

There are over 20 lakh visitors a year and mostly come in quest of knowing what is Buddha's teachings and Vipassana.

Touch points/ kiosks to be created across the campus at various locations to facilitate the visitors as soon as their thirst of doing courses is awakened the need of registration is fulfilled at that moment.

Hence adequate help desks provisions are envisaged.

25

 

4) Launch of Laser Show to show Buddha's life and Vipassana

Most of the monumental wonders of the world have adopted the use of the latest technology to give a long lasting impact of knowledge of the site and its background.

The laser show is in line with the latest tools to give a long lasting impact of knowledge on Buddha's life and Vipassana.

500

 

5) Educational Film on Vipassana (What is Vipassana, World of Vipassana & benefits of Vipassana)

Promoting education, including special education:-
To promote, spread, and educate totally non-sectarian teachings of Buddha and meditation technique free of all dogmas of any religion.

To educate the masses to promote equality and achieve peace and harmony amongst all beings and to eliminate all beings from miseries of life and rebirth.

500

 

6) Inclusion in the Buddha circuit for Meditational tourism of foreign tourists.

To promote Meditational Tourism for inclusion of this MTDC nominated one of the 7 Wonders of Maharashtra (Global Pagoda- World's largest Pillar less Dome with over 8000 sitting capacity of meditators & enshrined relics of Buddha) with tourist circuit of - Mumbai (Pagoda) - Bodhgaya- Shravasti- Sarnath- Kushinagar- Mumbai etc.to be added amongst consulates embassies.

10

 

7) Outdoor Communication & PR Infrastructure measures for Vipassana education and Knowledge of Buddha's Teachings of Dharma self-Explanatory, Kiosk, Video, short Films and animation scripted film for children.

To conduct outdoor activities & visits to leave a lasting impression that may also spark conversations with friends and family or on social media which can help direct even more people to Pagoda along first-time visitors to pagoda (Vipassana Centre).
Campus activities and corporate presentations with communication sets of Bluetooth enabled A.V. eqpt. sets and information kits / Kiosks, brochures, standees, etc.

250

 

SUB-TOTAL B.

2333

Item No. 4 - Ensuring environmental sustainability, ecological balance, protection of flora and fauna, animal welfare, agroforestry, conservation of natural resources and maintaining quality of soil, air and water (including contribution to the Clean Ganga Fund set-up by the Central Government for rejuvenation of river Ganga)

 

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

BENEFITS OF ALL BEINGS

 

Item No (iv)

1. Drip Irrigation and Rainwater harvesting system
2. Decentralized wastewater treatment and recycling system
3. Power saving devices for Campus Lighting

Environmental sustainability, ecological balance, protection of flora.
Conservation of natural resources and maintaining quality of soil, air and water.

375

 

1) Drip Irrigation and Rainwater harvesting

There is no availability of piped or municipal water in Pagoda. Consumption is around 1.5 lakhs liters of water per day at the cost of Rs. 15000/ day which comes to expenditure of approx. - Rs. 4 to 4.5 Lakhs /month.

The Pagoda campus area is 16 Acres. Majority areas are of lawns and gardens. Presently we are maintaining it manually. But urgently need to save costs of water and manpower; which is solely possible with the installation of the drip irrigation systems to ensure sustainable and ecological management of scarce water resources.

75

 

2) Decentralized sustainable wastewater treatment and recycling system

Presently we do not have any facility for recycle water treatment plant for re-use of water resource. As stated above we do not get Municipal (BMC) water; hence we need to process the water and reduce dependence on fresh water and save costs and conserve natural resources.

100

 

3) Power saving measures and devices for Campus Lighting Work

Presently our power requirement is 1000 Kw per day. About 75% of power supply is used to operate lightning systems in campus; out of that majorly during night operations of illuminating the Pagoda.

We also have installed solar power energy of installed capacity of 300 Kw in Campus.

In addition to it we consume 700 Kw power that is purchased form feeder lines costing around 7.00 lakhs per month. Power costs need to be reduced to achieve sustainable energy efficient lighting.

200

 

SUB-TOTAL C

375

Item No. 5 - Protection of national heritage, art and culture including restoration of buildings and sites of historical importance and works of art; setting up public libraries; promotion and development of traditional art and handicrafts.

 

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

BENEFITS OF ALL BEINGS

 

Item
No (v)

1) Structural Health Monitoring & audit
2) Dome Acoustics & viewing gallery of main Pagoda
3) Canopy internal works
4) Repairs of Parikrama
5) Air conditioning for Painting
6) Master Plan Design
7) Upgradation of entire Security systems Gorai

Protection of national heritage, art and culture including restoration of buildings and sites of historical importance and works of art.

775

 

1) Structural Health MonitoringSystems and Structural audit of main
Pagoda and Seismic record meter to do regularly
(i.e. at least @ 6 months interval)

Protection of national heritage, art and culture including restoration of buildings and sites of historical importance and works of art:-
Since this has been constructed with age-old technique of specially uniquely cut stone masonry construction, the life of the pagoda will be about 2500 years like other heritage structures of stone masonry.

The height of the complete Pagoda with three domes is 325 feet.

As it is a very unique structure it requires Structural Health Monitoring Systems to monitor for abnormal activity due external loads such as earthquake, extreme winds etc. and changes due to seasonal rains, summer and winter and conduct audit time to time.

100

 

2) Dome Acoustics and Glass viewing
gallery of main Pagoda

The instructions given during the meditation course gets distorted due to hollow structure of the Dome and acoustically it becomes difficult to understand the instructions during meditation. The daily meditation at the Pagoda caters to Vipassana Meditators who prefer clear and crisp voice instructions. The management has tried to resolve the problem and remains inadequately solved with the existing system hence efforts for improvement or replacement.

All the visitors view the inside of pagoda only through a glass viewing gallery and see the world's largest dome from inside and pay homage to relics. Over the years with the footfalls of over 20 lakhs; the structure has become outdated and without Acoustic insulation/ noise control or adequate lighting.

Present structure is insufficient to provide noise control and sufficient lighting and protection to Pagoda.

It requires improvised measures to facilitate visitors and to protect the interior of Pagoda and the heritage of Pagoda with relics.

150

 

3) Canopy internal works

Protection of national heritage, art and culture including restoration of buildings and sites of historical importance and works of art: -
The canopy is surrounding the Pagoda to facilitate all weather movement of visitor and take the benefit to learn Doha’s on the walls of Pagoda hence is an important part of Pagoda.

The Canopy is intrinsically Burmese design that is mounted on honey-combed design supports.

As per advice of experts it requires to do waterproofing treatment from inside to increase the life of the structure to maintain the structure of Pagoda

100

 

4) Repairs of Parikrama flooring

Approx. 1.25 lakhs sq. ft. of Parikrama encircling the Pagoda witnesses heavy foot falls Parikrama area is open to sky. It is exposed to all the weathers that affect the stone flooring. Because of this it has resulted in breakage and scaling of stones at some places. Replacement of broken stone layout and repairs of flooring will protect the pagoda and mishaps.

50

 

5) Air conditioning System for Painting & Photo Gallery (Relics & Construction)

There are 122 original paintings on the life of Buddha. They are hand painted by Burmese painters. As we are situated near sea creek; as the results the paintings are at risk of damage and due to open moist air from the creek. It requires protection

75

 

6) Master Plan Design of layout for larger gatherings and surge in visitors to Pagoda (Plan for next 15 years growth.)

Infrastructural development related to construction of connecting bridges from Manori, Borivali and RORO services at Gorai will encourage visitors to come to Pagoda to get educated on Vipassana and undertake Anapana Meditation. We also expect larger international participation due to meditational tourism. We expect a huge surge of public visiting Pagoda. Master Plan for next 15-20 years of planning is required to decide the visitors flow management keeping in view of the expected 15 lakhs visitors per month.

50

 

7) Upgradation of entire Security systems with full Set up with auto mode CCTV, X-ray Machines, more boom barriers etc., as per requirement of Police Authority. DFMD HHMD and scanners.

Confidential: - Security agencies have declared the Global Pagoda as vital Installation in Mumbai.
Regularly from time to time security agencies have advised us on improving the security services like adequate and abled guards, with security gear like torches, walkie-talkies etc. They have insisted for sufficient CCTVs, face recognition scanners and luggage scanners. Security with automatic boom barriers, underground raisers and ISI/ reputed DFMD and HHMD to protect this nationally important monument. Hence the requirement

250

 

SUB-TOTAL D

775

 

GRAND TOTAL (A+B+C+D)

3638

Total GVF Estimates: Rs. Thirty Six Crores and Thirty Eight Lakhs only